Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. -

Fresno State 2, Utah State 1

Utah State softball concluded its series at Fresno State Sunday, falling in its third one-run decision of the weekend in a 2-1 loss.

Junior pitcher April Brown started the day in the circle for the Aggies. In her first stint of the day, she threw 3.2 innings before being relieved by junior Alleyah Armendariz. Brown then re-entered the game after an inning off, while Armendariz returned for the seventh inning. Together, the two pitchers allowed six hits while Brown struck out four batters and walked two. Offensively, Utah State had just two hits in the game, with singles from senior outfielder Sarah Chow and sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke.

With the loss, Utah State falls to 19-19 on the season with a 5-7 Mountain West record. Fresno State improves to 30-9-1 overall with an 12-0 league ledger, having now won 22-straight Mountain West contests.

While senior catcher Kirstyn Namba led-off with a walk, the next six batters were retired by the Fresno State defense through the first two innings. The Aggie offense found a little more luck in the top of the third though, as junior second baseman Kylie-Rose Dickson and sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke both opened the inning with singles. Senior outfielder Sarah Chow then reached first on a single to load the bases. Senior designated player Noelle Johnson then offered a sacrifice fly to score Dickson and put USU on the board.

Throughout the first innings, the Aggie defense held strong and while Fresno State was able to get runners on base, USU kept the Bulldogs away from the plate. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that Fresno State was able to even the score. The Bulldogs generated back-to-back doubles, scoring a run on the second.

The next innings were quiet, as both teams held the opponent off at the plate. The Aggies were retired in order three times in Sunday's game, while USU did the same to Fresno State once.

With the game still tied entering the seventh inning, Utah State looked to capitalize on its offense. The Aggies got two runners on base with a walk and a fielder's choice, but the top of the inning came to an end on a strikeout. In the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs led-off with a walk. The next at-bat would turn out to be a sacrifice bunt, as the batter was caught out at first. However, in the time the play took to develop, a runner advanced to third and then moved home on an Aggie throwing error, ending the game.

Utah State returns to the familiarity of LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field this week for seven home games in seven days. The Aggies will host in-state rival Weber State on Wednesday, April 20, at 4 p.m. The team will then return to Mountain West action hosting back-to-back series against Boise State and Colorado State. USU and BSU will play a game a day from Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 23, playing at 3 p.m., 1 p.m. and Noon, respectively. The team will then open the rescheduled three-game series against the Rams, playing a doubleheader on Monday, April 25, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and wrapping up the series in a single game on Tuesday, April 26, at 11 a.m.

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