Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -

San Diego 4, Utah State 3

UC Riverside 5, Utah State 4 (8)

Utah State softball played a pair of close games at the Amy S. Harrison Classic Saturday, falling to San Diego, 4-3, and UC Riverside, 6-5, in eight innings.

Utah State falls to 1-12 on the year with Saturday's losses. Michigan State split the day, improving to 8-4 with the win, while falling to the Highlanders. UC Riverside is also 8-4, adding the pair of wins.

The Aggies opened the day on a high note, scoring three runs in the first inning of the morning matchup against San Diego. Senior outfielder Sarah Chow struck first, scoring the first of her three runs on the day on a single from senior first baseman Hailey Froton. Senior third baseman Nicole Arata walked in her first at bat of the day, bringing senior shortstop Jolene Koons around to the plate. Sophomore second baseman Devin Montgomery flied out to right field, allowing Froton to score.

USU held San Diego scoreless in the second, but the Toreros got on the board in the top of the third inning. After the first two batters of the inning flied and grounded out, Paige von Sprecken tripled to right center, where Chow and freshman Jazmin Clarke collided looking for the catch. A single from the next batter brought van Sprecken home for the first San Diego run of the game.

After a quiet three innings, San Diego added another three runs in the seventh, securing the win when the Aggies were unable to answer. Utah State opened the bottom of the seventh with freshman catcher Brina Buttacavoli reaching on a fielding error, but the Toreros responded with a double play and a fly out to end the game.

Sophomore Alleyah Armendariz pitched the San Diego game, allowing 10 hits with one strikeout. She falls to 0-6 on the year. Froton led the team on defense, tallying 11 putouts on the day.

The afternoon game opened at a much slower pace for both teams. The Aggies were again first on the scoreboard, but not until the third inning. Chow added her second run of the day, scoring again on a Froton single before Armendariz grounded out to end the inning.

USU added another pair of runs in the fifth, as a Chow triple brought senior outfielder Amburlyn Orzoco home. Chow then made the most of a fielder's choice on Froton's at bat, scoring her third and final run of the day.

Both teams scored in the sixth inning when Buttacavoli added a run when Koons flied out to center. In the bottom of the inning, Natalie Sanchez flied out to center, for the Highlanders, batting in Samantha Hernandez in the meantime. A three-run homer from Jenna Curtan in the bottom of the seventh evened the score, forcing extra innings. When USU did not score in the top of the eighth, the Highlanders ended the game when Haley Harris scored on a passed ball.

Junior Noelle Johnson pitched the majority of the afternoon game, allowing just six hits in the eight innings. She walked two batters while striking out another two. She was relieved by freshman Jordyn McCracken who allowed two hits, three runs and walked one player. Froton and Arata were tops defensively with five putouts a piece.

Utah State will conclude play at the Amy S. Harrison Classic on Sunday morning. The Aggies play a final matchup against Michigan State at 10 a.m. (MT).

Fans can follow the Aggie softball program on Twitter, @USUSoftball, on Facebook at facebook.com/USUSoftball or on Instagram, @ususoftball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at facebook.com/USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.