May 14, 2005
Final Stats
STOCKTON, Calif. - After erupting for nine runs on 11 hits against Pacific in the night cap of yesterday's doubleheader, Utah State softball mustered just three hits in an 8-0 six-inning loss to the Tigers in its 2005 season finale here Saturday afternoon.
The Aggies end their most successful season since 1997 at 23-29 overall and 7-14 in Big West play, while the Tigers improve to 30-25 and 12-9.
Utah State threatened early and often, but managed to strand nine base runners on the day - three of which were in scoring position.
The Aggies' biggest threat came in the first inning as Sara Fleming walked to open the inning and advanced to second on a ground out by Candice Hatch. She then got to third on a single by Jessica Garnett that snuck through the left side of the defense. Kelly Leos then loaded the bases by drawing a walk, but Pacific's Natalie King ended the threat by getting Roxanne Ritchie to pop up to second base.
Pacific, on the other hand, didn't have a problem scoring as it manufactured at least one run in five of the six innings, including two in the first and three in the second to runaway with the 8-0 victory.
USU's three hits came off the bats of Fleming (1-2), Garnett (1-3) and Jeanine Hernandez (1-2), who got her third start of the year.
Starting Aggie pitcher Heather Straight (4-8) was credited with the loss, lasting just 1.1 innings and giving up five runs - four of which were earned - on five hits. Leslie Higley came on in relief for USU and pitched the final 4.1 innings, allowing three runs - two of which were earned - on nine hits and fanning five.
King pitched all six innings for the Tigers and improved her record to 17-8. She allowed just three hits, walked five and struck out six in the triumph.
Quela Leonhardt ends the season leading the Aggies in both RBI (29) and batting average (.322), while Fleming closes out the year leading the team in home runs (10), doubles (16) and slugging percentage (.620). Both Leonhardt and Fleming are juniors and will return to Utah State next season.
Score by Innings R H E---------------------------------------Utah State.......... 000 000 - 0 3 2Pacific............. 230 111 - 8 14 1---------------------------------------
Note: 2 outs, 2 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - Fleming; Leonhardt; Curtier(9). DP - Utah State 1. LOB - Utah State 9;Pacific 10. 2B - Anunciation(13). HR - Curtier(17). HBP - Anunciation. SB -Carbonatto 2(23).
Utah State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP--------------------------------------------------Straight, Heather... 1.1 5 5 4 1 0 10 12 47Higley, Leslie...... 4.1 9 3 2 1 5 22 23 79
Pacific IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP--------------------------------------------------King, Natalie....... 6.0 3 0 0 5 6 22 27 105
Win - King (17-8). Loss - Straight (4-8). Save - None.HBP - by Straight (Anunciation). Pitches/strikes: Straight 47/25; Higley 79/54;King 105/56.Umpires - HP: Terry Ching 1B: Mike Banda 3B: Dimas ResendezStart: 12:24 pm Time: 2:02 Attendance: 224Game: PACSB55
