Utah State gives up nine home runs in first game at Johnson Field this season
Both Kelly Leos and Haven Vance hit home runs in Utah State’s home opener doubleheader against BYU, but USU softball couldn’t hold back an offensive barrage from the Cougars.
The Aggies lost the first game 12-2 and the second 9-1 as the Cougars combined for nine homers on the day.
Leos’ home run was her second of the season.
The Aggies fell to 5-22, 0-3 on the season while the Cougars improved to 23-8, 1-1.
“We need to be a better starting team,” said USU Head Coach Debbie Bilbao. “We put ourselves in a hole in both games, and that’s a tough situation to be in. We have to keep the game manageable, and we didn’t do that.”
In the first game, the Cougars took a 6-1 lead after the second inning. In the fourth inning, BYU’s Oli Keohohou, Kate Walker, Lauren Watson and Brooke Cadiente teamed up to hit four-straight home runs.
In the second game, Keohohou, Walker and Watson piled up a three-home run streak in the first inning. USU’s lone run of the game came off Vance’s homer in the fifth inning.
Aimee Johnson had a solid hitting day, going 2-5 with a double and an RBI. Stephanie Vasarhely was 3-5 on the day.
The Aggies host their first Big West Conference games as they face Long Beach State in a three game series this weekend.
The games start Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at noon.