Women’s softball team searches for redemption
The Utah State University softball team once again has a tough schedule as they play at the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday the Aggies face the University of Oregon and Southern Utah University.
Saturday they match up with the sixth-ranked University of Washington and BYU followed by the Aggies’ final game Sunday against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Last week the Aggies made their first trip of the season to Southern Utah and came away with two losses against SUU.
This week the team is looking to redeem themselves, Head Coach Debbie Bilbao said.
To help redeem their team at the tournament, the Aggies are counting on senior catcher Breanne Smith who is fifth on the home-run list at USU. Smith, with the Aggies top batting average of .370, hit her first home run of the season in the second game against SUU.
“Breanne is really stepping up and taking that role of leadership,” Bilbao said.
Along with Smith, Bilbao said she is also counting on freshmen pitcher Lindsay Janssen and first baseman Kelly Leos to lead the team.
“As a freshman pitcher, Lindsay is the most consistent of all our pitchers on the mound and Kelly is a great force at first base and good communicator,” Bilbao said.
Given the past record against this weekend’s competition, even with Smith, Leos and Janssen, the Aggies may have a rough time.
USU only faces two teams they have a winning record against. They are 53-6 against SUU and 22-10 against BYU.
But in light of last week’s outcome against SUU, even a 53-6 record doesn’t say much. Whether the Aggies are able to finally come out of the Red Desert Classic with a winning record or even a win matters little to Bilbao.
“I don’t talk about wins and losses with my team,” Bilbao said. “Our production and getting better is more important to me. We’re getting better, but it’s hard to see that in the newspaper because of our scores.”