March 30, 2012

Box Score | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State softball battled hard against Nevada in Friday's home-opening doubleheader, losing a heartbreaking, 8-7, nine-inning showdown in the first game of the day. The second game of the day proved to be just as thrilling as the first, as the Wolf Pack plated two late in the game to sink USU, 3-1.

The Aggies fall to (9-23, 1-4 WAC) on the season and have lost five of its last six outings. Nevada improves to (12-23, 3-2 WAC) on the season, winning three of its last four.

In the lead-off game of the series, Utah State erupted in the bottom of the first innings, scoring four runs in the inning to jump out to an early lead. Sophomore outfielder Kassandra Uchida and sophomore infielder Allison Lenzora delivered back-to-back singles, creating an early threat for USU and both players would advance on the next at-bat to put two-runners in scoring position. Senior infielder Kelley Kanseshiro converted on the opportunity by knocking an RBI single to right field, scoring Uchida.

Freshman outfielder Hailey Froton kept the offense rolling in the first frame as she deposited a three-run home run blast over the center field wall, pushing the Aggies lead out to a, 4-0, advantage. Froton's home run in Friday's game was her first career homer in a Utah State uniform.

Nevada responded to the USU offensive outburst in the top of the second inning, by scoring four runs of its own to tie the ball game.

The Aggies broke-up the tie when they next came to the plate in the bottom of the second, scoring two more runs in support of the home team. Sophomore outfielder Christina Cummings hit safely for a single worked her way to third with Uchida right behind her on second when junior infielder Christine Thomsen hit a two RBI single to center field, seizing the lead once again, 6-4.

The Wolf Pack added another run in the top of the fourth to close the two-run gap to a single run game. Thomsen responded and once again delivered when Utah State came to the plate in the bottom half of the frame. Lenzora legged out a triple on a hit to the right-center field gap and was plated when Thomsen sent a single out to center field, giving Thomsen her third RBI of the game. USU lead Nevada, 7-5 after four innings.

Nevada rallied late in the game, scoring a run in the top of the fifth inning to once again put it within one-run of the Aggies. The Wolf Pack tied the game in their final at bats of in the seventh inning when Lauren Lastrapes homered to left-center field, knotting the ball game at 7-7. Utah State could not respond in the bottom of the seventh, forcing the game into extra innings for USU's first extra inning game of the season.

Starting pitcher Mandy Harmon neutralized Nevada's eighth inning threat, as it had a runner in scoring position and Harmon struck out Lastrapes to end the inning. Her squad could not take advantage in the bottom half of the frame and sent the game into the ninth inning all tied up.

The Wolf Pack gained the momentum in the top of the ninth as Chelsea Venable hit a one out triple down the right field line, creating a scoring opportunity late in the game for Nevada. Sara Parsons took advantage of the opportunity and delivered an RBI single that allowed Venable to score what would be the game-winning run.

Utah State had no answer to Nevada's ninth inning score and was retired in three-straight outs to end the game. USU's seven runs on Friday is the most runs it has scored in a game since defeating Cal State Northridge, 12-9 on February 17 in the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.

Starting pitcher Mandy Harmon was charged with the loss and is now (4-11) this season. Picking up the win for Nevada was Karlyn Jones, who is now (4-4) on the year.

The Aggies looked to respond in the their second game of the day and found themselves locked in another tight ball game. Pitching and defense prevailed through the first three innings of the game as neither team was able to gain the early offensive momentum as it had in the previous game of the day.

The Wolf Pack struck first in the top of the fourth, scoring a single-run when Megan Fincher doubled to center field to score Parsons from second.

Utah State responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the fourth frame as Thomsen took a pitch and hit it off the right-field score board to pull USU back even with Nevada. It was Thomsen's fourth home run of the season which leads the team, as well as being her fourth RBI of the day.

Nevada broke the defensive struggle open in the top of the sixth by plating two runs to the demise of the Aggies. The two late-runs would prove to be to much for the Utah State offense to overcome and inevitably fell, 3-1, to end the days action.

USU and Nevada will wrap-up the three-game weekend series with a single game on Saturday, March 31. First pitch is set to be delivered from the circle at 1 p.m. (MT). Admission to all Aggie home games is free and open to the public.

Fans can follow action through the Game Tracker links available on the www.utahstateaggies.com home page.

Follow Utah State athletics, including softball, at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.com, as well as on facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/USUAthletics.