20220330_Sports_Softballv.WSU-8

USU softball wins back to back games, extends win streak to seven

On a seven-game winning streak, Utah State Softball is currently playing its best ball of the season. The Aggies posted back-to-back wins over Colorado State on Friday and Saturday to improve to 5-0 in conference play. They will look to sweep the seriesnagainst the Rams on Sunday. 

“The kids are doing a great job playing for themselves,” head coach Steve Johnson said about the recent success. “Playing for each other, and just riding that confidence wave.”

Here’s a capsule on the Friday and Saturday games.

Saturday

The Aggies beat the Rams 2-0 on Saturday, backed by a near no-hitter from Kapri Toone.

Toone pitched the full seven innings, giving up one hit in the top of the seventh. The two CSU baserunners were both thrown out on the basepath. A fourth-inning error placed a CSU player on base, but the Aggies forced a double play. In the seventh, a line drive came to Zaia Castruita, who tossed it to first for the double.  

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Offensively, Claudia Medina came through for the Aggies in the third inning, hooking the ball down the left field line for the first home run of her career. A Maize Mcfarland in the 5th inning brought in Libby Hawker to give USU a 2-0 lead. 

Friday

USU defeated CSU 2-0 on Friday, propelled by freshman Mia Reynolds’ shutout.

“I didn’t realize until the end that it was a shutout,” said Reynolds.

The Aggie pitcher said that she was “focusing on one pitch at a time.”

Reynolds came into the contest 5-6 with a 4.85 ERA.

The Aggies started the game with a two-run home run from senior Gabriella Jimenez in the bottom of the first but were unable to put any more runs on the board through the rest of the game. The home run was the fifth from Jimenez this season and put her RBI total to 29 on the season.

Head coach Steve Johnson said that CSU’s pitcher Julia Cabral did a great job against the Aggie lineup. “She was effectively wild,” said Johnson, “We’re gonna see her again this weekend for sure. We’ve just got to take a little bit different approach.”

Even though the Aggies didn’t score as many runs as they usually do, Johnson believed they played a great game.

“We didn’t get all the hits that we’ve normally been getting, but no one’s panicking because we believe in each other,” said Johnson.

Johnson said that the win came down to the pitching and defensive performance. The Aggies played amazing defense, only allowing three hits through the seven innings of play. Defensive discipline was a key part of the win according to Reynolds.

Anytime CSU looked like they were building momentum the Aggies shut them down including a 6-3 double play to end the top of the fifth that stopped CSU in their tracks.

Johnson said that any Aggie fan knows from the recent football, soccer, and volleyball seasons what happens when a team starts to win.

“When momentum starts taking over and you have confidence, a lot of good things tend to happen,” said Johnson.