March 20, 2009

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - In its first ever Western Athletic Conference softball game, Boise State shut out Utah State, 2-0 at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field in Logan, Utah. The Aggies are now 1-3 in WAC openers. With the loss, Utah State is now 6-17 overall and 0-1 in WAC games, while the Broncos are 14-9 and 1-0 in league games.

Senior Lindsey Benson took the loss despite allowing only six hits in 5.1 innings. Benson was plagued by some wildness, putting seven runners on base. Freshman Allie Crump earned her fourth win against three losses.

"I think, honestly, the defense did some good things, and (Lindsey) Benson made some good pitches when she needed too, so did Kate (Greenough)," Head Coach Candi Letts said. "They did their job pretty well. We made some defensive miscues that I think really hurt us. We misplayed a couple balls that really hurt us."

Boise State threatened several times, including the first inning when Laeha Hill started the inning with one of their seven walks. Lexi Straton was then out on batter's interference. Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo and Christin Capobianco both followed suit with walks, and Kathy Cox flew out. Benson would work out of the inning by striking out Jessi Hanna.

The Aggies started strong with two hits in the first inning. With two outs, freshman Rayna Bradshaw doubled to right center. After a Simone Hubbard walk, junior Nicole Rupp singled to shortstop, sending Bradshaw to third and Hubbard to second. But USU was not able to capitalize as senior Jeanine Hernandez grounded out to end the inning.

"The girls wanted to do so well. They came here to play, and you could just feel them getting tighter and tighter. They wanted it so bad, but they didn't do anything about it they just kept getting tighter and more tense," Letts said.

Utah State would get single hits in both the second and third innings. In the second, senior Aubrie Stroman led off the inning with a single down the rightfield line. She was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Benson. But Emily Reilly would strike out, and Jasmine Harris grounded out to end the inning.

In the third inning, junior Simone Hubbard doubled to left centerfield with two outs. Junior Nicole Rupp grounded out to end the threat.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Tazz Weatherly started the inning with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Kelsey Perkins moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Laeha Hill. Lexi Straton walked to put two on. Junior Kate Greenough came in to relieve Benson. The game was delayed over 20 minutes to determine if Greenough took too many warm up pitches, so Viers-Gordillo started her at bat with two balls. Viers-Gordillo would advanced both runners with a ground out. Cox broke the game open with a two-out single, scoring both runners and giving Boise State a 2-0 lead.

USU was not able to stage a rally and fell 2-0. The Aggies left five on base, while the Broncos left 13 on the base paths.

The two teams return to action on Saturday, March 21 for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Team                R   H   EBoise State         2   6   0Utah State          0   4   2