April 2, 2010

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - Despite snow being piled around the field, Utah State's bats were smoking hot Friday afternoon as the Aggies belted six home runs on the day to sweep Nevada 12-4 in six innings in the opener and 11-7 in the nightcap in USU's home and Western Athletic Conference opening action.

The wins improve Utah State to 14-15 overall and 3-2 in the WAC. Nevada falls to 14-16 overall and 1-4 in conference play. USU has now won three of its last five games overall. The Wolf Pack still hold the all-time series lead with the Aggies, 19-14.

Utah State earned its first overall, WAC and home doubleheader sweep since April 5, 2008 with a pair of wins over San Jose State.

The Aggies had scored double-digits runs twice in their 27 games prior to Friday, but hung double-figures in both of Friday's games.

In game one, the Wolf Pack struck first in the top of the opening inning. With one out, Michelle Patrick reached base on an infield single. She moved to second on an single by Sam Bias. Patrick crossed the plate after a single by Kelsey Starr to give the Wolf Pack the 1-0 lead. Starting senior pitcher Kate Greenough extended the inning by hitting Lauren Lastrapes to load the bases, but struck out Sam Puzey looking to end the inning.

The Aggies exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out senior centerfielder Nicole (Rupp) Tindall reached on a walk and went to third on a single by redshirt-sophomore third baseman Kelley Kaneshiro. Tindall scored on dropped fly ball by Nevada leftfielder Lauren Lastrapes off the bat of senior catcher Simone Hubbard. Kaneshiro scored on a single by senior first baseman Emily Reilly and both Hubbard and Reilly were plated on a double to right center by junior leftfielder Megan McDonald. The Aggies' final run of the frame was on an RBI bunt single by senior shortstop Rachel Evans, putting USU ahead 6-1.

After Nevada scored three in the top of the fourth to pull within, 6-4, with the big blow coming on a two-out two-RBI double to left center by Danielle Patrick.

Utah State blew the game open and forced the run-rule by hanging six on the board in the home half of the sixth. Kaneshiro started the rally with a one-out single up the middle. After freshman designated player Kali Cancelosi and Hubbard rapped singles to load the bases, Reilly laced a single to center to score Kaneshiro and freshman pinch runner Katie Bowdidge, who was running for Cancelosi. McDonald reached on an error by Wolf Pack second baseman Kortnee Wiley to re-load the bases. After a strikeout, junior pinch hitter Shasta Tyteca blasted a grand slam to center to end the game at 12-4 due to the eight-run run-rule.

It was Tyteca's first home run of the season and second of her career.

Greenough got the win in the circle, improving to 6-7, while Nevada's Katie Holverson took the loss, dropping to 5-10. Freshman Shelbi Tyteca joined her older sister with a noteworthy performance, getting her team-leading third save of the season with two innings of hitless ball.

In the second game, Nevada struck first in the top of the third inning. Megan Fincher singled to left field to start the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wiley. Fincher crossed the plate for the first run of the game when Patrick reached on an error by Evans.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Aggies tied the score with Cancelosi's second home run of the season to dead center. McDonald extended the inning with a two-out single to center. Utah State increased its lead to 3-1 when freshman second baseman Tina Ferguson launched her second home run of the season to center.

Nevada re-took the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Britton Murdock hit a grand slam to center. It was the second grand slam of Friday's doubleheader. The inning was then extended when the Wolf Pack added one more run with a two-out hit by Fincher, to extend Nevada's lead to 6-3 lead.

The Wolf Pack added another run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-3 advantage.

The Aggies rallied in the home half of the frame with eight runs, as Cancelosi led off with a single to left. Shasta Tyteca followed by launching her second home run of the day with a two-run shot to left. Reilly followed by reaching on another dropped fly ball, this time by Nevada right fielder Fincher, as Reilly got all the way to second while the ball was in the air. McDonald traded places with Reilly with a double to center and scored on a two-run pinch hit home run by Hubbard, which proved to be the game-winning runs by putting USU ahead 8-7. It was Hubbard's first round-tripper of the season.

USU added insurance runs as Tindall and Kaneshiro belted singles and Cancelosi cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left center and was the Aggies' final runs. It was Cancelosi's second home run of the game and third of the season.

Greenough pitched two and a third innings of relief of senior starter Stacey Ellingsworth, as Greenough got her second win of the day to even her ledger at 7-7. Mallary Darby took the loss for Nevada, dropping to 9-6 on the year.

Utah State concludes its opening WAC series with Nevada on Saturday, April 3. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m.