March 17, 2002

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State softball (3-20) split its games Sunday at the 2002 Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif., losing the consolation championship game to Middle Tennessee (14-13), 1-0 in 10 innings. In the first game, USU defeated San Jose State (12-25), 2-0 to advance to the consolation championship.

Against San Jose State, the Aggies scored two runs on two hits courtesy of Breanne Smith's second home run of the season, driving in Danielle Rodriguez, who reached base on a walk. Candice Hatch recorded USU's other hit, her second hit in three games. Sophomore pitcher Xochitl Ramirez (1-2) picked up the win, working her first game since March 1. She struck out four and didn't allow a run on four hits and two walks.

In the second game Sunday, the USU pitching staff held Middle Tennessee to just one hit in 10 innings, but it was costly. International tiebreaker rules were observed beginning in the eighth inning, but even with a runner placed on second base to start each inning, neither team was able to score until the bottom of the 10th, when Middle Tennessee's Erica Buhl posted an RBI single. Senior pitcher Kristin Hommel thew 8.0 innings, striking out seven and walking three. Freshman Lindsay Janssen worked one-third of an inning in relief, walking two. Ramirez relieved Janssen, and struck out one before allowing the game-winning hit that scored Lindsay Azevedo, who started the inning on second.

Once again, the Aggies' offensive production was spread among the team, with no player recording more than one hit. Aimee C. Johnson posted a double and a sacrifice and was 1-3 in the game, while second baseman Rodriguez was 1-4 with a stolen base. B. Smith was 1-3 with a sacrifice.

The Aggies face Utah in a single game in Salt Lake City Wednesday, March 20 at 3 p.m. USU opens the Big West conference season at Long Beach State March 23-24, playing a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game Sunday.

GAME 6, CAPITAL CLASSICUTAH STATE 2, SAN JOSE STATE 0SJSU -  000 000 0  -  0   4   0USU-    000     200 x  -  2   2    0Ferguson and Anderson, Ramirez and B. Smith.W- Ramirez (1-2), L- Ferguson (4-14).HR- (USU) B. Smith.

GAME 7, CAPITAL CLASSIC - CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIPMIDDLE TENNESSEE 1, UTAH STATE 0 (10)USU -   000 000 000 0  -  0   5   1MIDDLE TENN.-   000     000 000 1  -  1   1   1Hommel, Janssen (9), Ramirez (9.1) and B. Smith, Martinez, Preator (3) and Azevedo.W- Preator (2-6), L- Ramirez (1-3).2B- (USU) Johnson.