Utah State softball drops three to No. 8 Fullerton to open Big West play
For 18 innings, the Utah State softball team completely shut out national power Cal State Fullerton in the Big West Conference series opener for both teams.
The problem is the No. 8-ranked Titans scored a combined 12 runs in the other three innings, and showed their own pitching might en route to a three-game sweep of the Aggies Saturday and Sunday in Fullerton, Calif.
With the wins, the Titans – which came within one victory of reaching the College World Series a year ago – improved to 22-12, while Utah State fell to 5-20.
“We played 18 of 21 innings solid,” said USU Head Coach Debbie Bilbao. “[However] we need to generate a lot more offense and take some pressure off our pitching staff.”
CSF 5, USU 1
In a game eerily similar to the other two in the series, the Titans scored all of their runs in one inning to complete the series sweep, beating the Aggies 5-1 Sunday afternoon – CSF’s 13th straight victory over USU.
Unlike the other two games, the Aggies were able to generate some offense in the early going, when designated player Candice Hatch came through with an RBI single to center field in the top of the second inning.
Up 1-0, the Aggies were unable to produce any more offense on Titan pitcher Jodie Cox. Cox, who leads the BWC in opposing batting average allowed (.146), finished off a stellar weekend by holding USU to a Casey Smith single the rest of the way.
For the weekend, Cox gave up a measly two hits in 12 innings pitched, including Saturday’s no-hitter.
As for the Fullerton offense, it put its first five runners on base in the fourth inning, and scored five runs on five hits.
CSF 4, USU 0
Cal State Fullerton second baseman Heather Saltarelli went 3-for-4, including the hit that sparked CSF’s four-run third inning as the Titans beat the Aggies 4-0 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Following a Kristy Halagarda strike to open the bottom of the third, Saltarelli singled up the middle and stole second base. The hit and steal ignited the Titan offense, which picked up six of their 12 hits in the fourth inning alone.
Unlike the first game, Utah State was able to generate some offense as it collected five hits, including doubles by Stephanie Vasarhely and Kelly Leos.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, they were unable to capitalize, and stranded eight base runners in the game.
“The second game we did a better job putting the ball into play, but weren’t able to score any runs,” Bilbao said.
CSF 3, USU 0
For five innings, Saturday’s Big West opener between CSF and USU proved to be a pitching duel between Cox and Aggie freshman Leslie Higley.
That is until the Titans scored three runs on five hits in the sixth inning, and Cox wrapped up a complete-game no-hitter in CSF’s 3-0 victory over USU on Saturday.
Despite the loss, Bilbao had nothing but praise for Higley and the Aggie defense – a defense which finished with only one error in the series.
“She [Higley] did really well shutting Fullerton down, and defensively we made some really great plays,” she said.
Up next
Utah State will return to action Wednesday when it hosts in-state foe BYU in a doubleheader. It will be the Aggies’ first home games of the season.
-jasonwturner@cc.usu.edu