March 19, 2004

Final Stats

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Utah State's softball team upset Iowa 2-1 before falling 2-0 to St. Mary's on the first day of the Capital Classic here Friday afternoon. The Aggies avenged an earlier season loss to Iowa, which is receiving votes in the national polls.

Leslie Higley pitched a six-hit complete game victory in allowing the Hawkeyes just one run. After four scoreless innings, Iowa scored its run in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, USU rallied to win the game with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Hits by Jessica Garnett and Quela Henderson and an Iowa error gave USU its two game-winning runs.

Higley then closed the game by striking out two Hawkeyes in the final inning as USU recorded just its third win of the year.

In the second game, St. Mary's scored one run in the second and one in the seventh as USU recorded just one hit, a single by Casey Smith. The Aggies were shutout for the second time this year. Smith's hit came with two outs in the fifth inning, but Candice Hatch grounded out to end any USU threat.

Garnett took the loss for USU despite allowing just two earned runs. She gave up just three hits, walked two and struck out five in six innings.

The Aggies, now 3-15 on the season, will continue with the tournament playing Purdue and host Sacramento State on Saturday. USU will close the event with a single game against Long Island on Sunday.

UTAH STATE 2, IOWA 1

USU 000 000 2 - 2 2 0

UI 000 010 0 - 1 6 1

WP - Higley (3-5). LP - Birocci (6-5). LOB - USU 3, UI 5

ST. MARY'S 2, UTAH STATE 0

SMC 010 000 1 - 2 3 0

USU 000 000 0 - 0 1 1

WP - Bautista (3-5). LP - Garnett (0-8). LOB - SMC 2, USU 1. HR - Arnold (SMC).