April 26, 2005
Final Stats
Logan, Utah - Utah State's softball team stopped a 19-game losing streak to BYU as it split its doubleheader with the Cougars here Tuesday afternoon. The Aggies took the first game 7-2, then dropped the second 8-0. The Aggies are now 18-27 on the season, while the Cougars are 36-11.
In the first game, Leslie Higley improved to 12-10, allowing only five hits while striking out four. Higley is the first Aggie to have a winning record this late in the season since 1996.
USU started out the second inning strong as Roxanne Ritchie hit a two-run triple into right field. In the third, Sara Fleming hit a lead- off home run to make the score 3-0. Quela Leonhardt then hit a long double into left center field and Kelly Leos followed with a double of her own to send Leonhardt in and make the score 4-0.
After BYU scored in the fourth, USU's Canice Hatch and Leonhardt drove in one run each with base hits to bring the score to 6-1.
BYU and USU traded runs in the fifth and sixth innings and the game ended with USU up 7-2. The win stopped a 19-game losing streak to BYU dating back to April 20, 1987.
Eight Aggies recorded hits during the first game including Fleming who went 2-4 at the plate with one RBI and a home run. This was Fleming's 10th home run on the season which ties USU's single-season home run record. Roxanne Ritchie went 2 for 2 and Amanda Carver went 2 for 3 as USU recorded 13 hits to the Cougars' five. The 13 hits ties USU's season-high in that catagory first recorded against Northern Colorado on April 7. The victory was Utah State's eighth in eleven games.
Utah State's offense came to a sudden halt in the second game. The Aggies were unable to connect with the ball until the third inning and by that time the Cougars were up 5-0 courtesy of two consecutive two-run home runs and another run driven in by a base hit.
USU's defense tried to keep the Aggies in the game, recording four double plays, but BYU's offense was too much. The game was called in the sixth after BYU scored three more unanswered runs.
USU pitchers Erica Hancock and Heather Straight combined to give up 13 hits in six innings. Hancock picked up the loss, dropping her overall record to 0-3.
Three Aggies recorded hits in game as the Aggies had three hits compared to 13 for BYU.
The Aggies stay in Logan this week as they face Utah Valley State in a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Utah State 7, BYU 2
Score by Innings R H E-----------------------------------------Brigham Young Univ.. 000 110 0 - 2 5 2Utah State...........022 201 X - 7 13 1-----------------------------------------
E - DODDS; ANDERSON; Leonhardt. DP - BYU Cougars 3. 2B - Hatch; Leonhardt; Leos. 3B - Ritchie. HR - KENNEDY; Fleming.
Win - Higley (12-10). Loss - BOYCE (8-4).
Utah State 0, BYU 8
Score by Innings R H E---------------------------------------Brigham Young Univ.. 005 003 - 8 13 0Utah State.......... 000 000 - 0 3 1---------------------------------------
E - Straight. DP - USU 4. LOB - BYU Cougars 6; USU 3. 2B - LE'I; Vlahos. HR - DODDS; RUSSELL; PARAMORE.
Win - URINCHO (11-2). Loss - Hancock (0-3).
