March 24, 2006

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah State's softball team could not hold on to a seventh inning lead as Harvard scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to pick up a 6-5 victory at the Utah Invitational here on Friday. The Aggies dropped their fourth straight game with the loss and fell to 4-19 overall, while Harvard improved to 7-7 on the season.

Utah State took its first lead in the fifth inning as Quela Leonhardt started a two-out rally with a single, and then stole second base. Heather Haak followed with a walk and Jessica Garnett kept the inning alive with a single. With the bases full of Aggies, Whitnie Ray delivered a two-run single as Utah State took a 3-1 lead.

The Crimson wasted no time in mounting a two-out rally of its own as Julia Kidder and Rachel Murray both singled in the bottom of the inning. Susie Winkeller then put Harvard back on top as she hit her third home run of the season, giving the Crimson a 4-3 lead.

Utah State would continue the see-saw battle as Sara Fleming led-off the sixth inning with her first home run of the season, and two batters later, Jeanine Hernandez would put the Aggies on top again with a solo shot of her own. Fleming and Hernandez nearly doubled the Aggies season home run total in a single inning as Utah State had only three dingers coming into Friday's game.

With the score 5-4 in favor of Utah State, the Crimson tied the game thanks to a one-out single by Murray. With two-outs, Danielle Kerper came through with a walk-off double, giving Harvard the 6-5 win.

The Aggies hammered out eight hits and were led by Fleming and Ray who went 2-3 and 2-4 respectively. Heather Straight (4-5) took the loss as she pitched one and one-third innings in relief of Lindsey Benson who got the start.

Utah State will return to Logan on Saturday, March 25 where it will be holding a kick-off rally from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in anticipation for its home season that is set to begin March 28 against Harvard. The Aggies return to action on Sunday, March 26 in Salt Lake City where they will take on Utah.