May 4, 2003

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah -

May 4 , 2003 Contact: Jeremy Seeley (435) 797-2066

USU SOFTBALL PICKS UP FIRST HOME WIN OF SEASON

LOGAN, Utah - Casey Smith hit her first career home run and went 4-3 with a double as the Aggies beat UC Riverside 9-1 here Sunday. The win marked the first home victory of the season for USU. The Aggies improved to 7-35 on the season and 2-13 in the Big West. The Highlanders fell to 13-41, 4-14.

"I'm just proud of this team," said head coach Debbie Bilbao. "There's a lot I could say, but they just did a good job."

As a team, the Aggies hit .387 on the day, with seven players notching hits. Haven Vance continued her hitting streak, going 2-4. Amanda Carlson was 2-3 on the day with a walk and an RBI.

Utah State jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs in the second inning. Smith sparked the scoring bonanza as she doubled, driving in two runs. In the same inning, Marcie Neff picked up her 11th steal of the season, moving into tenth place for steals in a season by an Aggie.

Smith hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to clinch the victory for the Aggies.

Leslie Higley pitched six innings, earning her fifth win of the season. She allowed just one run, as the Highlanders' Jamie Yee scored off a wild pitch.

USU continues its homestand May 6-7 against Long Beach State in a three-game series at Johnson Field.

UTAH STATE 9, UC RIVERSIDE 1UCR -   000 010 X   -   1   6   3USU -   061 002 X   -   9   12  0
Bethurum (2), Jackson and Cunningham; Higley and Carlson. W - Higley (5-17).L - Bethurum (5-12). E - (UCR) Hernandez 2, Sanchez. DP - UCR 1. LOB - UCR 7;USU 10. 2B - (UCR) Hernandez, Burneleit, Cunningham; (USU) Smith.HR - (USU) Smith. HBP - (UCR) Cunningham; (USU) Leos, Fleming.SH - (UCR) Robison, Gonzalez. SB - (USU) Neff, M.