April 28, 2001

LOGAN, Utah - USU's softball team split a double-header with Big West Conference opponent UC Santa Barbara Saturday at the LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field. The Aggies dominated the Gauchos 10-2 in the first game but dropped a close 8-7 decision in game two.

Led by freshman Casey Smith's perfect 3-of-3 hitting the Aggies saw a one-run deficit turn into an eight run lead and a USU victory in the first game of the afternoon. Utah State was the first team to get on the board as Smith tripled to right center and then scored on a passed ball in the first inning.

UC Santa Barbara answered in the second inning when leadoff batter Kim Sawyer hit a solo homerun to tie the game. Davis Beck scored the Gauchos second run on an error by pitcher Xochitl Ramirez after getting on base on a single and then advancing to second on a sacrifice by Katie Junge.

The Aggies did not the let UCSB keep the lead for long as they exploded for seven runs on five hits and two Gaucho errors in the third inning. Pinch running for DP Amanda Carlson, Markean Neal scored the Aggies first run on an error by UC Santa Barbara's pitcher. Smith then singled to centerfield to bring in first baseman Kara Tarbet. Heather Curtis followed with a single of her own to score Kristin Mansfield, while Shannon Acevedo drove in two runs with a single to centerfield. Stephanie Vasarhely brought in the Aggies final two runs of the inning on a double also to centerfield.

UC Santa Barbara was held scoreless the remainder of the game while Utah State tacked on two more runs in the third inning to give the Aggies the eight run advantage.

USU pitcher Xochitl Ramirez came away with her third win in a row and her fourth win of the season. Ramirez pitched five complete innings and allowed just five hits.

In a reversal of fortunes Utah State saw a two-run lead dissappear in one unlucky inning to drop the second game of the afternoon to UC Santa Barbara. USU got on the board in each of the first two innings as Heather Curtis scored on a single by Breanne Nickle in the first inning and Marnie Andrews scored on an error by the Gauchos pitcher in the second inning.

The Aggies remained ahead 2-0 for two complete innings before the Gauchos unloaded in the top of the fifth scoring seven runs on five hits and two Utah State errors. USU scored one run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo shot by outfielder Shannon Acevedo to tighten the Gaucho lead, but UCSB responded scoring an additional run in the sixth to take the lead back out to five.

Utah State rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning but fell just short scoring four runs. Junior Breanne Nickle blasted her sixth homerun of the season, and her third in four games, to bring in USU's first two runs of the inning. Vasarhely then hit a double to centerfield and Kara Tarbet advanced to first after being hit by the Gaucho pitcher. Sophomore Danielle Rodriguez came to the plate and drove in Vasarhely on a double to the second baseman, and Tarbet scored the Aggies final run on a wild pitch.

In the second game Vasarhely finished with an incredible 4-for-4 performance scoring one run, while Nickle hit 3-of-4 with three RBI's and a run scored. Acevedo also had a productive game going 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI and two runs scored.

The Aggies are now 10-36 on the season and 4-13 in conference action. Utah State will close out the three-game series with UC Santa Barbara tomorrow with its final home game of the season at noon.

UTAH STATE 10, UC SANTA BARBARA 2UCSB - 020 00 - 2  5  2USU - 172 0X - 10  9  1WP - Xochitl Ramirez, USU, LP - Loren Thornberg, UCSB, HR - Kim Sawyer, UCSB, 3B - Casey Smith, USU, 2B - Stephanie Vasarhely, USU.
UC SANTA BARBARA 8, UTAH STATE 7UCSB - 000 071 0 - 8  9  2USU - 110 010 4 - 7  14  2WP - Katie Junge, UCSB, LP - Lisa Spencer, USU, HR - Shannon Acevedo, Breanne Nickle, USU, Sarah Brown, UCSB, 2B - Danielle Rodriguez, Stephanie Vasarhely, USU, Jami Trinidad, Stacy Bolton, UCSB.