Box Score

OGDEN, Utah -

Weber State 4, Utah State 3

Weber State 7, Utah State 0

Utah State softball opened its final week of non-conference competition Tuesday, as it fell to Weber State in a pair of doubleheader matchups, 4-3 and 7-0.

Weber State picked up the win in the first game, ending the game on a walk-off bunt. The second game of the afternoon ended as a no-hitter for the Wildcats who came out ahead. This was the first no-hitter against the Aggies of the season.

"It's really frustrating right now to see where we've fallen since our sweep over Colorado State and the win over Fresno State. We've asked our pitchers to step up and they've done that. Today, especially in the second game, we gave them seven outs. We had four chances to make plays and we didn't. We can't do that right now," said USU head coach Steve Johnson. The most disappointing thing is what's happened to our bats. We've gone from hitting .305 as a team to close to .290 now in a week-and-a-half. We have to pick up the slack from some of the kids who are out of the lineup. We need to go out and compete harder as we finish up the season."

With the two losses, Utah State falls to 16-32 on the season, while Weber State improves to 30-15.

The Aggies opened the first game by quickly loading the bases,taking advantage of two Weber State errors, while hitting one single. However, three-straight strikeouts ended the early attempt and the Wildcats took over. Molly Horne reached first on a USU error, advancing to second and driving Aubrey Whitmer home who had hit a double just before. Sara Hingsberger followed with a single of her own, but it was enough to help Horne to the plate.

After three empty innings on both sides, Utah State was finally able to get on the board in the top of the fifth. Senior shortstop Jolene Koons reached first on a Wildcat throwing error, allowing time for sophomore Emma Willenborg crossed the plate as a pinch runner for senior outfielder Sarah Vasquez.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats extended their lead, with Jazmine Thompson picking up the third run as a pinch runner for Horne. After Horne's double, Hingsberger grounded out, allowing Thompson to advance. She then scored on a single from Mackenzi Corta.

The Aggies mixed up the batting order in the top of the final inning with junior Kirstyn Namba hitting for sophomore Devin Montgomery and junior Libby Pederson replacing Vasquez. Namba and freshman catcher Brina Buttacavoli both singled, while Namba scored on a single from Pederson. With no outs and the bases loaded, Koons got a piece of the ball, scoring senior Amburlyn Orozco as a pinch runner to tie the score. Junior pitcher Alleyah Armendariz lined out to the Weber State shortstop ending the USU portion of the inning.

As the lead-off hitter McKinley Brinkerhoff led the Aggie defense to believe she would bunt, she instead launched a double to left field. Alyson Kulp then approached the plate, where she bunted, but was putout at first. However, as first baseman Paxton Provost grabbed the out, she was unable to get the ball back to the plate in time and Brinkerhoff scored to end the game.

Armendariz pitched the entirety of the first game, her fourth complete game of the season. She allowed eight hits with the four runs, with one walk and one strikeout on the day. Buttacavoli was the most productive at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Provost led defensively with 11 putouts.

Utah State opened the second game going down in order, while freshman pitcher Paige Mills allowed just one walk in the bottom of the inning. The second inning had a similar feel for the Aggies as they picked up three quick outs.

Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the same as Weber State took to the plate, as Hingsberger homered to left field to put the Wildcats on the board first. The Wildcats then put up back-to-back singles, while Mylee Brown added a second home run to give Weber State a four-run advantage. A wild pitch from Mills then allowed Kulp to add another run to the board, while Hingsberger singled to score Whitmer. Mills threw one more wild pitch to advance runners, but the inning finally came to an end as Corta grounded out to second.

The Aggies opened the third inning with three-straight walks, loading the bases for Namba. Namba made contact with the ball, forcing a fielder's choice for the Wildcats who tagged Mills out at home. A similar setup followed as Koons got on base, but Vasquez was out at the plate. Despite the bases being loaded for the majority of the inning, it came to an end with USU still unable to score as Armendariz grounded out.

Utah State brought Jordyn McCracken into the circle as the game went into the bottom of the third who struck out her first two batters. The inning came to a much quicker and more favorable ending as Brinkerhoff flied out to freshman outfielder Jazmin Clarke for the final out.

The Weber State defense needed just six pitches to retire the Aggies in the top of the fourth, as Pederson struck out and Arata and Montgomery were putout on their potential hits. USU let two Wildcat players get on base in the bottom of the fourth, but held Weber State without another run.

Though it took a bit longer than the fourth inning, the fifth opened in a similar fashion for the Aggies, as were retired in order. Hinsgberger led off for the Wildcats in the bottom of the inning, hitting her second home run of the game. At first base, Pederson had two close calls go in her favor for a pair of outs, while the inning came to and end on a grounder to third.

The Aggies were able to break their 1-2-3 trend in the top of the sixth, when sophomore Megan Rhead entered the game as a pinch hitter for Armendariz, earning a walk after two early outs. However, Pederson then struck out to end the inning. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Kulp stole second for the Wildcats, moving into scoring position with Whitmer at the plate. Whitmer flied out to right field, as the Aggies were able to avoid a run-ruled game and head to the seventh.

The Wildcats made a pitching change for the final inning of the game as Bailey Seek entered in relief for Stephanie Mathias. Arata popped up to the Weber State shortstop for the first out of the inning, while Montgomery flied out to left field. After not playing the second game, Chow entered to pinch hit for McCracken, but was putout at first, ending the game and completing the no-hitter for Weber State.

The Aggies continue their trip through the state on Wednesday, April 22 as they travel to Provo for a matchup at BYU. Action will get underway at 6 p.m., in a game that will be broadcast on BYUtv.

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.