April 11, 2001
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's softball team dropped a double-header to in-state rival Utah (8-4, 6-5) at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field Wednesday. USU is now 5-29 on the season while Utah improves to 26-17-1.
The Aggies dug themselves into a hole early in the first game when Utah's Melissa Stanhke hit a three-run shot over the left field wall. USU answered when Shannon Acevedo drove in Casey Smith in the bottom of the first.
Breanne Nickle then blasted a three-run bomb in the fourth to give the Aggies the edge over the Utes. Unfortunately USU's lead would not last long as the Utes scored five runs in the fifth inning on three hits and two Aggie errors to take the final 8-4 lead.
Game two saw USU outhit the Utes 11-6 but still fall short in the end. Danielle Rodriquez went 3-of-4 at the plate and Heather Curtis was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk.
Once again Utah took the early lead scoring five runs in the first two innings. Utah scored its sixth run in the top of the fourth on a solo shot by Stanhke, her second of the day. Down six runs the Aggies slowly chipped at the Utes lead scoring one run in the fourth on a wild pitch, and another run in the fifth on a triple by Heather Curtis who was then brought in on a single to center by Smith.
Utah State threatened the Utes led in the sixth scoring three more runs on six Aggie hits. USU had runners in scoring position with two outs but could not get them across and fell by a final score of 6-5.
Utah State will continue its season this Friday and Saturday with a three-game series against Big West competitor Sacramento State. The Aggies will play a double-header at 2 p.m. on Friday and then return for a single-game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
UTAH 8, UTAH STATE 4UU - 300 050 0 - 8 9 1USU - 100 300 0 - 4 5 2WP - Kristin Arbogast, UU, LP - Lisa Spencer, USU, HR - Melissa Stanhke, UU, Breanne Nickle, USU.
UTAH 6, UTAH STATE 5UU - 140 100 0 - 6 6 0USU - 000 113 0 - 5 11 1WP - Heather Bowlin, UU, LP - Xochitl Ramirez, USU, HR - Molly McLean, Melissa Stanhke, UU.
