March 18, 2008

Box Score

PROVO, Utah - Utah State softball lost to both South Dakota State and Brigham Young in single-game contests at Provo, Utah on Tuesday afternoon at BYU's Gail Miller Field. The Aggies dropped a 2-1 contest to the Jackrabbits of SDSU and were run-ruled, 15-4, after five innings against the Cougars of BYU.

USU falls to 3-14 overall, having lost seven in a row, while SDSU moves to 7-16 on the year and BYU improves to 15-11 on the season.

The Aggies plated the first run of the game against the Jackrabbits in the top of the third, as sophomore second baseman Nicole Rupp led off the inning with a single to shortstop and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore center fielder Emily Reilly. Rupp then stole third and was brought in by junior left fielder Mikey Price, who grounded out to short. Freshman shortstop Kelley Kaneshiro hit a single to left field to continue the inning with one out remaining before junior first baseman Aubrie Stroman grounded out to third to end the rally and the Aggie scoring.

The score remained 1-0 in USU's favor through three more innings before SDSU managed to bring two across in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and go on to win the game.

In the circle, junior Lindsey Benson struck out a season-high five batters in six innings, while giving up five hits. Benson takes the loss and is now 3-10 overall. Jenna Marston picked up the win for South Dakota State after striking out three in seven innings as she is now 7-13 on the season.

In game two, the Aggies once again scored first as Price walked to lead off the top of the first, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman designated player Jessica Law and then scored on a single to left by Kaneshiro.

BYU responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by first baseman Daniela Snow, as the Cougars jumped ahead, 3-1.

USU brought in another run in the top of the second as freshman third baseman Shasta Tyteca was hit by a pitch to start off the inning. Rupp hit a single to left to advance Tyteca to second, and then they both stole second and third, respectively. Law walked to load the bases and Kaneshiro drew a bases-loaded walk to score Tyteca.

Utah State tied up the score at three-all with a run in the visitor half of the third, as Reilly started off the inning with a single to left, while junior second baseman Jeanine Hernandez reached on an error by the shortstop to advance Reilly to second. Tyteca went to first on an error by the pitcher to move Reilly and Hernandez up as well. Rupp grounded out to second and brought in Reilly for the RBI.

The Cougars' bats came alive in the bottom of the third as they scored nine runs on five hits to take a 12-3 lead.

Stroman smacked her second home run this season over the right field fence in the top of the fourth for the Aggies to cut into the Cougar lead.

BYU tacked on three more runs in the home half of the fourth and pulled away with the win.

Tylee Landon took the loss in the circle for Utah State and she is now 0-2 on the year, while Christie Zinanti improves to 5-6 for BYU.

The Aggies open Western Athletic Conference action with a three-game series at Reno, Nev. against Nevada on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22. Games start at 3 p.m. (MT) on both days, with a doubleheader scheduled for Friday.