Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -

Utah State 7, UNLV 4

Completing its first series sweep of the season, Utah State softball topped UNLV in a 7-4 victory Sunday.

Senior pitcher Noelle Johnson threw her second complete game of the weekend Sunday, improving to 6-7 on the season. She struck out two batters and walked one while allowing 10 hits and four runs. Offensively, junior outfielder Alleyah Armendariz, junior shortstop Sarina Jaramillo and sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke each had two hits on the day.

"I'm really happy with the win today and getting the conference sweep. We played well all weekend are we're building confidence. Once that starts, good things start to happen," said USU head coach Steve Johnson. "As we keep building, we're starting to do more of the little things right more consistently. Now we have to refocus for a quick turnaround with Montana and San José State this week."

With the win, Utah State improves to 16-13 on the season with a 4-2 Mountain West record. The Rebels fall to 18-20 overall and 2-7 in league action.

Continuing the trend of the weekend series, the Aggies were first to score Sunday, picking up a single run in the top of the first inning. Senior outfielder Sarah Chow was first on base with a walk, who then stole second base. Armendariz followed with her first double of the day, helping Chow across the plate. The Rebels answered in the bottom of the inning. With a batter on base from a USU error, a single gave a runner time to get home from second and tie the score.

In the top of the third, Armendariz added another double to her day, while senior first baseman Libby Pederson hit a home run to left center to score both runners and put the lead back in the Aggies' favor. Jaramillo followed Pederson with a single, forcing a pitching change for the Rebels. Senior designated player Paxton Provost then reached first on a UNLV error, where freshman pinch runner Mia Maher had time to run home.

After retiring the Rebels in order in the bottom of the third, Chow led-off the top of the fourth with a double to left field. Johnson followed with a single and was able to advance to second on a bad throw. On that UNLV error, Chow had time to get home and add to the scoreboard.

The fifth inning saw the Aggies put up another pair of runs. With the bases loaded on singles from Provost and Clarke, as well as a walk from Namba, Chow was hit by a pitch. As she took first, all runners advanced, pushing a run across. On the next at-bat, Johnson flied out to right field, but after tagging up, Clarke also scored, giving the Aggies a 7-1 lead.

The Aggie offense was retired in order in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Rebel bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh. UNLV added six hits in its final at-bats, keeping the bases loaded. The Rebels scored three runs in that last attempt, but were unable to catch the Aggies.

Utah State returns to LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field this week for a busy week of games. The Aggies host Montana in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 6 with action beginning at 1 p.m. The team will host its first Mountain West series over the weekend, playing three games against San José State with a game a day from Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10. Friday's game is set for 3 p.m., with first pitch for Saturday and Sunday's action coming at Noon.

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.

-USU-