April 26, 2002

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Utah State softball (8-39, 4-12) had its four-game Big West Conference winning streak snapped Friday as UC Santa Barbara (24-29, 9-7) defeated the Aggies, 5-4. UCSB won its sixth consecutive game.

USU trailed the Gauchos 5-1 entering the top of the seventh inning and scored three unearned runs on three errors, but couldn't come up with the tying run. Aggie centerfielder Casey Smith was 2-3 with a run scored on the day, while USU's Breanne Smith was 2-4 with an RBI.

Pitcher Kristin Hommel (5-15) took the loss, working 6.0 innings, and allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and three bases on balls. She struck out one. Stephanie Vasarhely and Marcie Neff each contributed a hit for the Aggies, as Neff was 1-3 with a walk, a run scored and one batted in.

Combined, the two teams committed seven errors in the game. Neither pitching staff allowed an extra-base hit. USU left seven runners on base, while UCSB stranded eight.

The Aggies and the Gauchos play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Mountain time.

UC SANTA BARBARA 5, UTAH STATE 4USU  -  000 001 3  -  4   6    3UCSB     -  003 002 x  -  5   7    4Hommel and B. Smith; Junge, Thornburg (7) and Trinidad.W- Junge (11-10), L- Hommel (5-15), S- Thornburg (1).