USU swept again by Utah Utes
Playing at home for the second time this season, the USU women’s softball team suffered two gut-wrenching losses to instate rival University of Utah Utes Wednesday at Johnson field.
Utah 6, USU 5
In a game that featured clutch hitting by the Aggies and a strong pitching performance from Kristin Hommel, a 6-0 Ute lead proved too much to overcome.
Down 6-2 in the sixth inning, Utah State staged a furious rally, scoring three runs on six hits, but the Utes still escaped with a 6-5 victory.
“It’s the best [Hommel’s] pitched in a month and a half,” said USU coach Pam McCreesh. “Hommel had a great game.”
“I think everybody was hitting the ball hard,” said catcher Breanne Nickle. “We’re hitting the ball hard enough to win.”
A few minor execution errors and the Utes’ early lead offset 11 Aggie hits by seven different players, including two by Casey Smith and Heather Curtis and three by Danielle Rodriguez.
One execution error that proved to be costly came in the fifth inning. With runners in scoring position and two outs, Shannon Acevedo was picked off by Ute catcher Christina Pfeninger to end the inning and momentarily kill the Aggie momentum.
“That should not happen,” McCreesh said. “It can’t happen in that situation.”
Like the first game, the Utes dug the Aggies an early hole to climb out of. After striking out Molly McLean and forcing a ground out by Masie Ota to open the game, sophomore pitcher Xochitl Ramirez struggled.
Following a free pass to Pfeninger, McLean opened the second inning with a two-run shot to right field, giving the Utes a 3-0. Later in the inning, Ramirez was pulled in favor of Hommel after a two-run double by second baseman Michelle Larsen gave the Utes a commanding 5-0 lead.
The Utes increased their lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning on Melissa Stanhke’s 16th dinger of the season. But the rest of the game belonged to Hommel and the Aggies.
A triple down the first base line by shortstop Heather Curtis with two outs in the fifth inning ignited the Aggie bats. USU collected eight hits over the next two innings, including doubles by Breanne Nickle, Rodriguez and Curtis.
However, after replacing Heather Bowlin, Kristin Arbogast was able to shut down the last five Aggie batters and end the game.
Though disappointed by the loss, Smith said USU showed a lot of progress since its first three games against the Utes.
“To come through on a Wednesday when you only have a couple of days to prepare is satisfying,” she said.
Utah 8, USU 4
Bases on balls have plagued the Aggie pitching staff the entire season and were disastrous in the first game of the doubleheader.
Up 4-3 in the fifth inning, the Aggies walked three of the first four batters they faced. U of U capitalized, scoring five runs in the fifth en route to an 8-4 victory.
Pinch hitter Ota and third baseman Lyndsey Trevis opened the inning with consecutive walks. Following a pop-up by freshman slugger Melissa Stahnke, Niki Hayhurst walked, loading the bases.
After tying the game on a single by Christina Pfeninger with two outs, the Utes took the lead when Becky Culligan reached base on an error by first baseman Kara Tarbet, scoring Trevis. Angie Kenney would punctuate the rally with a three-run double to center field, giving the Utes a 8-4 lead.
Ute ace Kristin Arbogast retired nine of the last 11 batters she faced for her 19th victory and third against the Aggies this season.
The Utes opened the game on fire from the plate. Consecutive singles by Molly McLean and Amberly Jeppson set the stage for Stahnke, who blasted a three-run homer – her 15th of the season.
Freshman Casey Smith led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field. She would eventually score on a Shannon Acevedo sacrifice, cutting the Utah lead to 3-1.
Down 3-1 in the fourth inning, the Aggies would do something they had yet to do against Arbogast all season – capitalize with runners in scoring position.
A single by Acevedo and a fielding error by Arbogast on a ball hit by Stephanie Vasarhely placed runners on first and second with one out. Junior catcher Breanne Nickle responded, hitting a three-run jack over the fence in right-center, pushing the Aggies in front 4-3.
“I’m happy for [Nickle] because she battles extremely hard and works hard,” said USU head coach Pam McCreesh.
Utah State will return to Big West Conference play Friday and Saturday against Sacramento State University. The two teams will play a doubleheader Friday, starting at 2 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Johnson field.
Sacramento State is currently 2-7 in conference play, while the Aggies are 1-8. The Hornets won two of three from the Aggies’ last season on their home field.