April 24, 2009

Box Score

RENO, Nev. - Playing its fourth and fifth games of the week, Utah State softball came up short against first-place Nevada at Hixson Park in Reno, Nevada. USU played close in the first game of the doubleheader, falling 3-1. The Wolf Pack also took the second game 8-0 in five innings.

With the pair of losses, USU is now 10-34 overall and 3-14 in Western Athletic Conference action, while Nevada improves to 31-14 overall and 13-4 in WAC play.

The Wolf Pack struck first in the bottom of the second scoring one run. Michelle Beach singled to left centerfield with one out. Noelle Micka reached on an error by third baseman Rachel Evans that moved to Beach to second. A two-out single by Kym Silagyi brought home Micka.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Brittany Puzey hit her 11th of the season with a shot to center. Britton Murdock continued the inning with a walk off of starting pitcher Lindsey Benson. After an error by third baseman Rachel Evans, Murdock moved to second. The run would eventually score on a fielder's choice by Michelle Beach to put Nevada up 3-0.

The Aggies got one run back in the top of the seventh. Freshman Jasmine Harris started the inning with a single to centerfield. She was eliminated from the basepaths on a fielder's choice off the bat of senior Aubrie Stroman. Senior Jeanine Hernandez kept the inning going with a single. Junior Rachel Evans reached on an error by Wolf Pack third baseman Sam Bias and advanced to second on the throw. Hernandez went to third and Stroman plated USU's run to cut the lead to 3-1. Nevada's Katie Holverson got junior Emily Reilly to fly out to end the threat and the game.

Senior Lindsey Benson took the loss, allowing only three runs, two of which are earned. With the loss, she falls to 1-21. Katie Holverson took the win for the Wolf Pack and improved to 20-7.

In game two, Nevada struck first, scoring three in the top of the first inning. Kym Silagyi doubled to center with one out. Brittany Puzey then followed with a walk. A Britton Murdock sacrifice fly brought home Silagyi and gave the Wolf Pack the 1-0 lead. Sam Bias drove home Murdock with a single to centerfield. The final run crossed the plate after a base hit by Sarah Hunt.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wolf Pack added the four more runs. Nevada got four-straight hits off of junior starter Kate Greenough to get the rally moving. Three of the runs scored on a double by Siagyi.

The Wolf Pack ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with their eighth run of the game. Noelle Micka connected with her second hit of the game, a home run to left centerfield to end the game.

The two Aggie hits came at the top of the order. Freshman Gina Rawls singled, while junior Nicole Rupp doubled.

Greenough took the loss and now holds a 7-9 record. Mallary Darby earned the win for Nevada and improves to 12-7.

The Aggies close out the regular season road portion of the schedule tomorrow against Nevada. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (MT).

Game OneTeam            R   H   EUtah State      1   4   3Nevada              3   5   1
Game Two (5 innings)Team            R   H   EUtah State      0   2   1Nevada              8   13  1