Feb. 25, 2006

Final Stats

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Utah State's softball opened the University of San Diego Spring Tournament with losses to San Diego (7-6) and UC Riverside (8-0) here on Saturday. With the losses, the Aggies fall to 2-12 on the season.

In the first game, Utah State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Jeanine Hernandez and Amy Schaible started the inning off with back-to-back hits, and Quela Leonhardt delivered with a two-run double to give the Aggies their first lead in three games.

Utah State gave up a run to the Toreros in next inning, but held its lead going into the sixth, where San Diego exploded for six runs thanks to six hits in the inning.

The Aggies responded in their last at-bat as Leonhardt and Heather Haak both had RBIs, and Tara Evans added a two-out, two-run double to cut the lead to 7-6. However, Utah State's rally would come up short as San Diego's Gina McFarland would strike out the final batter to seal the victory.

The Aggies were led by Leonhardt's three RBIs, and by Schaible and Tara Evans, who both had a multi-hit game.

In the second game, UC Riverside struck early as the Highlanders would score two runs in the first and one in the third to claim a 3-0 lead. The Aggies would threaten in the bottom of the third as Hernandez singled, and Schaible and Jessica Garnett walked to load the bases, but Utah State ended the inning with the bags full.

UC Riverside would go on to score two more runs in the fourth, and seal the win by plating three runs in the seventh. The Aggies had their chances to cut into the Highlanders lead, but Utah State failed to deliver as it left 10 runners on base in the game. The Aggies were also plagued by four errors as they dropped their fifth straight game.

Utah State will conclude the San Diego Spring Tournament Sunday mourning as it faces UC Riverside at 11 a.m., and WAC foe Nevada at 1 p.m.