March 16, 2006
Final Stats
Sacramento, Calif. - Utah State's softball team snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 win as the Aggies split a doubleheader with Wisconsin here on Wednesday. With the split, the Aggies move to 3-15 on the season.
Wisconsin's Kaitlin Reiss put the Badgers on the board early as she hit her second home run of the season, giving Wisconsin a 1-0 lead. However, that was the only run that Utah State's Heather Straight (3-3) would allow as she pitched a four-hit complete game, striking out seven, and not allowing a walk.
The Aggies were unable to give Straight any run support as the score remained 1-0 going into the fifth inning. However, in the inning Jamie Fife reached base with a single, while Amanda Carver found her way on board thanks to a Wisconsin error. Sara Fleming then put the Aggies on top as she roped a double to left-centerfield, driving in Fife and Carver. Fleming's two-run double would be enough as the game ended 2-1 in favor of the Aggies.
In the second game, Utah State's Leslie Higley and Wisconsin's Leah Vanevenhoven squared-off in a pitching battle as niether team could manage a run through five innings.
The game remained scoreless going into the bottom of the sixth inning where the Badgers Joey Daniels walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Daniles was then brought home thanks to a single by Reiss, and Athena Vasquez followed with an RBI double. The Badgers added another run off of a Utah State error, pushing their lead to 3-0.
The Aggies were unable to answer the rally as they fell 3-0 in the nightcap. Utah State managed four hits off Vanevenhoven, including a triple by Amy Schaible, and singles by Carver, Fleming and Heather Haak.
Higley pitched the full six innings as she allowed only one earned run on just six hits, but it was not enough as she dropped to 0-5 on the season.
The Aggies will continue their season at the Sacramento State Capital Classic on Friday against Princeton at 11:30 a.m., followed by a game against Miami (OH) at 4:30 p.m.
