April 12, 2006

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY - Senior Quela Leonhardt extended her onbase streak to 14 games as she singled in both games of the doubleheader against Utah, but the Aggies could not pick up a win as they fell 3-1 and 8-1 to the Utes here on Wednesday. Utah State has now lost five games in a row and fell to 5-27 with the losses, while Utah improved to 23-12 with the wins.

The Aggies were overwhelmed by Utah as the Utes outhit them 24 to nine in the two-game series. Utah State could not stay out of the big inning as Utah scored eight of its 11 runs in two innings.

In the first game, it took the Aggies until their last chance at bat to mount a rally. Sophomore Whitnie Ray led off the inning with single to third base and Leonhardt moved her to third with a single of her own two batters later. Junior Jamie Fife then brought Ray around to score as she grounded out to the short stop. However, Utah State's rally was too little too late as Lindsie Nielsen recorded the last out to earn her third save of the season.

Senior Leslie Higley (0-8) was unable to record her first win of the season as she took the loss, giving up eight hits and three earned runs in six innings. Meghan Dyer (11-4) got the win as she struck out 10, and allowed only two hits in five innings.

The Aggies would not fare much better in the nightcap as they didn't manage a base runner until the fourth inning when Ray was hit by a pitch. Leonhardt then extended her hitting streak to four games as she singled, moving Ray to third. Ray then came around to score thanks to an error by the Ute short stop, tying the game at 1-1.

That would be the closest Utah State would get as the Utes went on to explode in the bottom of the inning with five runs on seven hits. Utah's Jackie Wong delivered with a two-run triple, and Mattthews and Phillips added RBI base hits in the inning as the Utes took a commanding 6-1 lead. The Aggies would threaten in the sixth as they loaded the bases, but Utah's Sheri Shrock was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.

Heather Straight dropped to 5-8 with the loss as she gave up five earned runs and 10 hits in three and two-thirds innings. Cannon improved to 9-5 as she pitched five innings, striking out three.

The Aggies will return to conference play as they look to win their first WAC game against Louisiana Tech this Friday and Saturday. The two teams will play a single game on April 14 starting at 5 p.m., and will wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader on April 15, which is set to begin at 1 p.m.