Feb. 9, 2007

Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah - Utah State softball opened the head coach Candi Letts era and the 2007 season in dramatic fashion with an 11-2 six-inning run-ruled rout over Southern Utah on Friday in USU's first action at the BYU/UVSC Red Desert Classic at St. George, Utah.

The win is USU's first season-opening win since 2001, snapping a five-year season-opening losing skid. The Aggies are now 22-10 all-time in season-openers in their 32nd year of softball.

It was USU's first run-rule victory since a 9-1 win over Utah Valley State on April 30, 2005.

With the win, USU is now 58-13 all-time vs. Southern Utah.

The duo of senior 1B Jamie Fife and junior 3B Amy Schaible combined for a 7-8 effort at the plate, with a home run each. Fife was 4-4 with a HR, while Schaible was 3-4 with a round-tripper of her own. Junior SS Tara Evans was 2-3 with a pair of doubles to add to USU's battery at the plate.

Sophomore pitcher Lindsey Benson got the win in the circle, firing five strikeouts.

"The win feels good, the girls are excited," Letts said. "There was some nervousness at the start, we got down 1-0, but the girls played hard and battled back and took the lead for good. We learned something new every inning and this was a great first step and beginning to the season."

USU returns to the diamond to take on co-host BYU at 1:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the Aggies take on Idaho State at 1:30 p.m. and Dixie State at 4:30 p.m.