Feb. 16, 2001

POWAY, Calif. - - Utah State's softball team split its first two games in the opening day of the San Diego State-hosted Campbell/Cartier Classic Friday. The Aggies defeated Iowa State 5-1 in the first game before dropping their second game to (#41) Northwestern 5-0. USU is now 3-4 on the season.

Against Iowa State, USU opened the game with a run in the top of the first as junior Breanne Nickle brought in junior Heather Curtis on a double to centerfield. The Aggies scored again in the third when freshman Shannon Acevedo came home on a single by sophomore Stephanie Vasarhely and a Cyclone error.

Iowa State attempted to even the score bringing in what would end up being the Cyclones only run in the bottom of the third. Utah State responded and extended its lead in the sixth inning scoring three runs on five Aggie hits. Sophomore Christina Conrad recorded two RBI on her single to centerfield to give USU the 5-1 lead. The Aggie defense held Iowa State scoreless in the final four innings to come away with the victory. Freshamn pitcher Lisa Spencer improved her record to 3-1 on the year.

Against Northwestern costly errors and only four Utah State hits allowed the Wildcats to score five runs and shut out the Aggies squad in the second game of the day. Northwestern got on the board early scoring two runs in the second and three runs in the third. Utah State could not get its bats going and were held scoreless in all seven innings of play.

Utah State returns to action tomorrow, Feb. 17, when it plays Ohio State at 11:30 a.m. and 15th-ranked Stanford at 4:30 p.m. in the second day of Campbell/Cartier Classic action.

UTAH STATE 5, IOWA STATE 1
USU - 101 003 0  -  5  11  3ISU  -  001 000 0  -  1  7  1
WP - Lisa Spencer, USU, LP - Jen Bice, ISU, 2B - Nickle, USU, Wardein (2), ISU.
UTAH STATE 0, NORTHWESTERN 5
USU - 023 000 0  -  5  7  1ISU -  000 000 0  -  0 4  3
WP - Brie Brown, NW, LP - Kristin Hommel, USU, 2B - Leto, Nakabayashi, ISU.