March 9, 2011

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Utah State softball split a doubleheader with Cal State Bakersfield for the second day in a row Wednesday, winning the opener, 3-1 in nine innings, before falling, 4-1, in the nightcap, at CSUB's RR Softball Complex.

The Aggies are now 5-14 with the split while the Roadrunners are 6-12.

Senior outfielder Joreigh Landers was 3-for-7 on the day with three RBI, adding two stolen bases and USU's lone extra base hit in the nightcap, belting an RBI-double. Junior first baseman Ashley Ventura was also 3-for-7 in the twinbill, with an RBI in game one.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, there was a pitchers duel between USU junior Dani Chaplin and Cal State Bakersfield Sarah Hoag.

The Aggies would strike first but not until to the top of the sixth inning when freshman infielder Kassy Uchida started the inning with a single. With one out, sophomore catcher Tina Fergeson singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Ventura continued her hot hitting with a double to left center to plate Uchida and give USU the early 1-0 lead. Hoag was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The Roadrunners fought back to tie the score in the bottom half of the seventh inning. It took only one swing to tie the score as Jazmine Lee hit a one-out home run to left center off of relief pitcher Mandy Harmon. The sophomore was able to strike out two of the next three batters to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.

Chaplin pitched a solid 5.1 innings in the no-decision. She allowed only three hits and struck out one.

For the second-straight game, USU went into extra frames with Cal State Bakersfield. USU used three-straight singles to put runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth inning in what was the Aggies' longest game of the season. Ventura started the inning with a single through the left side, while senior shortstop Kelley Kaneshiro followed with a single up the middle. Utah State would load the bases on a single to center by junior second baseman Lindsey Marquez who was pinch ran for by freshman Christina Cummings. Junior third baseman Tatem Day came through with a clutch one-out double to center to score both Ventura and Kaneshiro to give the Aggies a 3-1 lead.

Harmon got the Roadrunners out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win. The sophomore improved to 4-9 with the win in relief.

The extra-inning game was Utah State's third extra frame game of the season and their first win as the Aggies now stand at 1-2 in extra-frame games.

In the nightcap, Cal State Bakersfield threatened in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Lee singled and Amy Ricciardi followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Lee was eliminated from the base paths by a fielder's choice by Laura King.

The Aggies plated their lone run in the fifth, as Kaneshiro led off the inning with a walk. Senior outfielder Joreigh Landers followed by blasting a double to left center to score Kaneshiro, and Landers moved to third on the throw. Freshman catcher Samantha Miller then reached on a fielder's choice to second as Landers was thrown out at home trying to score on the play. Two batters later, freshman outfielder Krista Bava singled up the middle to put runners on first and second, but Uchida grounded into a fielder's choice to short to end the threat.

CSUB hung all four of its runs on the board in the sixth, with Emily Bliss starting the rally with a double to left. Lee then got hit by a pitch to put two Roadrunners on and Ricciardi followed with an infield hit to score Ashley Nahale, who pinch ran for Bliss. Next, King laced a two-run single to left to drive in Ricciardi and Lee, and moved to second on an error. After a groundout moved King to third, Karissa Veiga drove her in with an RBI single to right for Cal State Bakersfield's fourth run of the frame. After a single to right by Chelsey Bell, Jamie Miller lined out to third to end the inning.

USU went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game and split the doubleheader for the second day in a row.

Marquez, Ventura and Landers were all 1-for-3 in the nightcap, while Bava was 1-for-2. Landers had the Aggie's lone RBI of the game, as well as their lone extra base hit with a double.

Harmon went the distance in the second game, yielding nine hits while striking out two, falling to 4-10 with the loss.

The Aggies continue their longest road trip of the season, heading to Long Beach for Long Beach Airport Marriott Invitational March 11-13. Utah State will begin the tournament against Cal State Fullerton on Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. (MT).

Fans can follow USU softball and Utah State athletics at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.