Final Stats

SANTEE, Calif. -

Long Beach State 16, Utah State (5)

Baylor 6, Utah State 5

Utah State softball continued action from the San Diego Classic II in a pair of games Saturday, falling to Long Beach State, 16-3, in a five-inning game, while just missing No. 15 Baylor in a 6-5 defeat.

With the pair of losses, the Aggies fall to 6-16 on the season as they head into the final day of tournament competition. Long Beach State improves to 13-18 on the year, while the Bears improve to 18-6.

The game against Long Beach State opened in Utah State's favor as the Aggies scored two early runs in the bottom of the first inning. As the first batter up, junior outfielder Sarah Chow singled up the middle, advancing on a fielding error on senior shortstop Jolene Koons' at bat. When senior outfielder Hailey Froton flied out, Chow was able to cross the plate. Koons was next, scoring on a single from sophomore pitcher Alleyah Armendariz.

That lead didn't last long, however, as the 49ers scored three unanswered runs over the next two innings. A home run in the second put Long Beach State on the board, while a double in the third put the 49ers in the lead. For the Aggies, sophomore second baseman Victoria Saucedo added the third run of the day, scoring when junior catcher Kirstyn Namba doubled down the right field line.

The fifth inning proved to be a lucky one for Long Beach State as the 49ers added 13 runs in the at bat. The scoring hits were highlighted by one homer and one double, while two other batters had multi-RBI hits. The Aggies were unable to respond, going 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning and ending the game in a run-rule situation.

Armendariz pitched the majority of the game against the 49ers before being relieved by freshman Jordyn McCracken during the fifth inning. The pair allowed 14 hits while striking out two batters and walking three. Saucedo and sophomore first baseman Paxton Provost were tops defensively for Utah State, adding five putouts each.

After a brief break, the Aggies were back in action against 15th-ranked Baylor. Utah State again scored first, as Koons added her second run of the day, crossing the plate on a muffed throw from the third baseman after reaching first base on a fielding error.

The Aggie lead didn't last long, as the Bears scored five runs in their first at bat, three of which were unearned. With a series of USU substitutions midway through the first inning, the Aggie defense strengthened, preparing for what would be a strong performance.

USU added another pair of runs in each of the next two innings, evening the score at five. After drawing a walk, Armendariz ran home on a single from senior third baseman Nicole Arata, while junior pitcher Noelle Johnson scored on a Koons single. In the third inning, senior outfielder Sarah Vasquez was first on base after being hit by a pitch. When Saucedo flied out to right field, Vasquez was able to score, followed by an Armendariz run off a single from Johnson.

Baylor added its sixth run in the bottom of the third, when Jessica Scroggins advanced around the bases through a combination of a stolen base and wild pitch, scoring on a single through the left side. Through the next four innings, both teams combined for just four hits, with neither able to capitalize on the offensive efforts. The seventh inning was a quick one as both teams went 1-2-3 to end the game in Baylor's favor.

Johnson pitched the entirety of the game against the Bears, allowing 10 hits while earning four strikeouts and walking three batters. Defensively, Vasquez led the Aggies with five putouts at left field.

The Aggies will conclude San Diego Classic II action, as well as tournament play for the season, Sunday in a 12:30 p.m. matchup against Harvard. Utah State opens the head-to-head portion of the 2015 campaign in a doubleheader at Southern Utah on Wednesday, March 18.

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.