Feb. 8, 2002

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Utah State softball struggled in its first two games of the 2002 season, losing to New Mexico State, 8-2, and to No. 8 Arizona State, 13-4. USU (0-2) is playing in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl Tournament, hosted by ASU, in Tempe, Ariz.

"Mentally, I don't think we were ready to play," said head coach Debbie Bilbao. "We didn't make the adjustments at the plate that we needed to, and we made some poor choices on the defensive side of the ball."

The Aggies lost to New Mexico State (3-5), 8-2 in the season opener. Freshman pitcher Lindsay Janssen allowed four earned runs in four innings pitched and took the loss in her college debut. "Lindsay took her licks and just kept coming back," head coach Debbie Bilbao said. "She did well for a freshman and I think we're going to see the benefits of her experience down the road."

In the second game of the day, USU scored three runs in the top of the fifth, but host Arizona State (1-0) scored its 13 runs, and the game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman first baseman Kelly Leos was 1-2 on the day, with a run scored.

Senior catcher Breanne Smith was 2-4 on the day with two RBI, a run scored and a walk. Overall, Stephanie Vaserhely was 2-6 on the day for USU, with her second career home run coming in the game against ASU. She also drove in two. "Stephanie had the best day for us overall," Bilbao said. "She made a couple great defensive plays."