April 9, 2002

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's softball team snapped a 13-game losing streak by defeating Southern Utah 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader in Logan on Tuesday. The Thunderbirds won the second game 3-1. The split gives USU a 4-33 record on the season, while SUU is now 16-20.

A two-run triple in the third inning by Breanne Smith provided the runs USU needed to get its first win since defeating San Jose State on March 17. Kristin Hommel went the distance for the Aggies and allowed just two runs on six hits. She improved to 2-13 on the season.

Southern Utah scored in the top half of the first inning, but the Aggies responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Stephanie Vasarhely's single to centerfield plated Marcie Neff, who had reached base on an error to start the inning.

Smith rapped her second triple of the season in the third inning to score both Stephanie Vasarherly and Heather Curtis, who had singled earlier. Southern Utah scored a run in the fifth inning to pull within 3-2, but Hommel shut the Thunderbirds down the rest of the way.

"It was an important win for us," said USU head coach Debbie Bilbao. "It is important with this team to be getting back on track. We did some great things. We are starting to pitch much better. We had two great pitching performances, especially the first game. I was really pleased with Hommel's performance. We made the stops we were supposed to make defensively and we got some hits and scored some runs."

In the second game the teams were scoreless until Southern Utah scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning. The Thunderbirds reached Aggie pitcher Lindsay Janssen for five hits in the inning and 11 hits overall.

USU scored one run in the bottom of the sixth as Kara Foster knocked in Smith was a single. The Aggies managed just four hits in the game, including a two-of-two performance from Marnie Andrews.

Lacee LePrey was the standout for the Thunderbirds in the second game as she allowed just one run on four hits, while striking out eight as the team's pitcher. At the plate, she was two-of-four with two RBI and a run scored.

"I am pleased with this team," Bilbao said. "They have been through a lot this year and they are really coming together. The chemistry was great. I am very happy overall with what happened out there today."

Utah State will host Brigham Young in a doubleheader on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Game #1 - UTAH STATE 3, SOUTHERN UTAH 2

SUU 100 010 0 - 2 6 3

USU 102 000 X - 3 5 0

Evans and Heineman. Hommel and B. Smith. W - Hommel (2-13). L - Evans (4-5). LOB - SUU - 6, USU - 7. 2B - LePrey, Leeman, Cox. 3B - B. Smith.

Game #2 - SOUTHERN UTAH 3, UTAH STATE 1

SUU 000 030 0 - 3 11 0

USU 000 001 0 - 1 4 1

LePrey and Whittaker. Janssen and B. Smith. W - LePrey (9-8). L - Janssen (1-15). LOB - SUU - 7, USU - 8. 2B - Michiue, Leeman. 3B - LePrey.