Feb. 16, 2003

Box Score

PHOENIX - Utah State softball started its season 0-4 at the Louisville Slugger Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 15-16. USU lost to Illinois State 2-0 and to 13th-ranked Arizona State 12-2 Sunday. The Aggies opened the season with a 3-2 loss to Illinois State and a 9-0 loss to Iowa Saturday.

Kelly Leos hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to score Utah State's only runs in its 12-2 loss to Arizona State. Freshman Leslie Higley gave up 12 runs on 14 hits in her second career start. Senior Stephanie Vasarhely was 3-3 with a double.

The Aggies were hurt by a third-inning grand slam by Keri Pulcifer and a a four-run scoring spree in the sixth.

"We can't give up the big innings like that," said USU head coach Debbie Bilbao. "We have to stop making those small errors that cause big plays."

In the third game, the Aggies faced Illinois State for the second time in the tournament and lost 2-0. The game was scoreless until Illinois State's Kate Stake drove in two runs on a double to centerfield. Both Illinois and the Aggies had three runs in the game.

"We didn't do a good job adjusting to their pitching," Bilbao said.

In the first game of the season, USU played a tough game against Illinois State before losing 3-2 in the eighth inning. In her first collegiate pitching performance, Higley gave up six hits and three runs in eight innings.

Newcomer Quela Henderson hit 2-2, including a double, scored two runs and was walked twice. Sophomore Kelly Leos hit 3-3.

"I was pleased," said head coach Debbie Bilbao. "We got the jitters out and played well."

In the second game, against Iowa, the Aggies lost 9-0. "We were caught on our heels a couple of times," said Bilbao. "With a team like Iowa, we need to put the ball in play more and we didn't."

This week, the Aggies play a double header at Southern Utah Feb. 20. The first game is at noon.

Results At Lousiville Slugger Classic, Phoenix, Ariz.

Game 1ILLINOIS STATE 3, UTAH STATE 2ISU -   110 000 01  -   3   6   2USU -   000 101 00  -   2   7   1Rast and Baker; Higley and Fleming.W- Rast (2-2), L- Higley (0-1).
Game 2IOWA 9, UTAH STATE 0IOWA    -   005 013 X   -   9       16      0USU -   103 500 X   -   0       1       2W- Birocci (1-0), L- Baumgartner (0-1). 2
Game 3ILLINOIS STATE 2, UTAH STATE 0ISU -   000 002 0   -   2   3   0USU -   000 000 0   -   0   3   0Harris and Guilbault;Baumgartner, Higley (6) and Carlson.W- Harris (3-2), L- Baumgartner (0-2)
Game 4ARIZONA STATE 12, UTAH STATE 2ASU -   124 014 x   -   12  14  1USU -   000 020 x   -   2   5   2Werschky, Aguilar (4), Evans (6) and Garcia,Cobos, Barrera; Higley and Fleming.W- Werschky (1-0), L- Higley (0-2).HR Pulcifer 2, Werschky 2, Leos.