March 7, 2009

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Utah State softball team got solid pitching in its first two games of the Mustang Classic in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Aggie got off to a great start beating UC Riverside 4-1. The win stopped a season-high eight-game losing streak. In the second game, USU lost in a 10-inning battle to Sacramento State 5-2.

The Aggies are now 4-13.

Pitching and defense were key for the Aggies as UC Riverside got on the board early, scoring on a wild pitch in the first inning. But the run would be the only one the Aggies would allow as Kate Greenough and Stacey Ellingsworth combined to allow four hits and one run in seven innings.

The Aggie bats also got into the act in the third inning when Gina Rawls reached on an error by the Highlander second baseman. Rayna Bradshaw was able to ring Rawls home with a sacrafice bunt to tie the game at one a piece.

Then in the fifth inning the Aggies took the lead when freshman Jasmine Harris lead off with a walk. Harris eventually scored on a Simone Hubbard single to left field to give the Aggies a 2-1 lead.

The score remained 2-1 until the 7th inning when the Aggies plated two more runs off an RBI single by junior Emily Reilly. Greenough was then able to close things out in the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman Rayna Bradshaw led the way with two hits and Emily Reilly added two RBI. Junior Kate Greenough picked up the win, pitching 4 and a half innings and giving up only 2 hits and no earned runs. Ellingsworth got the start going 2 innings with 2 hits and one earned run.

In the second game of the day, the Aggies took the early lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, freshman Jasmine Harris singled to center. Harris advanced to third on a sacrifice by freshman Gina Rawls. Yet another Aggie rookie Rayna Bradshaw gave USU the 1-0 lead with a single to centerfield.

The Hornets tied the score in the top of the sixth inning with a single run off of pitcher Lindsey Benson. With two outs, Desiree Beltran walked on five pitches. Alicia Noreiga came in to pinch run for Beltran, and she would eventually steal second. A Jamie Schloredt double would tie the score at 1-1.

The score remained tied until the ninth inning. With the use of the international tie-breaking rule a runner was placed on second to start the inning. Whitney Loomis started the inning on second base and moved to third on a sacrifice. Sacramento State took a 2-1 lead when Izmena Cabrera delivered an infield single.

The Aggies fought back in the bottom half of the inning when Gina Rawls was placed on second base to start the inning. After Bradshaw grounded out and Bradshaw struck out, senior Aubrie Stroman doubled down the leftfield line to tie the score at 2-2.

Sacramento State ended the lengthy battle when it plated three runs in the top of the 10th inning.Jacquelyn Serrano started the inning on second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice. Alyssa Nakken was intentionally walked by Benson. Loomis singled and advanced to second on an error by centerfielder Emiy Reilly. On the play, both Serrano and Nakken scored, giving the Hornets a 4-2 lead. Sacramento State would add one more run on a Beltran double that scoreedd Loomis, andthe Hornets took the 5-2 lead into the bottm of the 10th inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Shasta Tyteca was placed on second to start the inning. The Aggies were not able to get a runner across the plate.

Benson pitched all 10 innings and took the loss despite allowing only one earned run. With the loss, she falls to 0-7. Megan Schaefer improved to 3-7 with the win.

Utah State continues action Saturday, March 7 against Temple at 10 a.m. and host Cal Poly at 3 p.m.