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Boise State 15, Utah State 7 (5)

Boise State 15, Utah State 6 (5)

Despite several big plays, Utah State softball was unable to fight off Boise State Sunday, dropping a pair of five-inning games. The Broncos defeated the Aggies 15-7 and 15-6 in the final games of the Mountain West-opening series. Senior catcher/designated player Brina Buttacavoli led the Aggies at the plate, where she went 3-of-4, including a grand slam and another two-run home run. Five other Utah State players batted .500 between the two games.

Utah State utilized three pitchers Sunday, as sophomore Kellie White, freshman Delaney Hull and senior Jordyn McCracken all saw time on the mound. Hull made the first start of the day, with McCracken coming in for an inning of relief. White started the later game of the day, throwing two innings before Hull came in to pitch the final three.

With the losses, Utah State ends the weekend with a 9-14 record, including an 0-3 Mountain West ledger. Boise State improves to 15-8 on the season and 3-0 in conference play.

Utah State took the first lead of the day in the first game, with a sole run in the bottom of the first. Senior outfielder Jazmin Clarke led off with a bunt single, stealing second. Senior outfielder Emily Hunter followed with a single to shortstop, with both runners advancing on the throw to score Clarke.

Both teams were retired in order in the second inning, but Boise State was able to score its first runs in top of the third. Four hits and one defensive error led to two runs for the Broncos. The Aggies then took the lead back in the bottom of the inning with another six runs. Clarke again opened the inning with a single, followed by a hit from Hunter. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, while sophomore outfielder Riley Plogger drew a walk to load the bases. Buttacavoli cleared the bases with the second grand slam of her career. After one out, sophomore second baseman Devan Sperry added a home run of her own. The Broncos made a pitching change then, but added just one more out before the Aggie offense returned. Freshman shortstop Emery Marshall added a single, advancing on a Boise State error. Junior first baseman Bailee Trapp followed with a single down the right side to bring Marshall home.

The Aggie defense held on until the top of the fifth, when the Boise State offense exploded to score 13 runs. The Broncos tallied nine hits and capitalized on four Utah State errors to quickly retake the lead. Utah State was retired in order in the bottom half of the inning, ending the game.

Boise State tallied 15 hits in the game, committing just one error, while the Aggies had eight hits and five errors.

Unfortunately for the Aggies, the Boise State hot streak continued through the first two innings of the second game, where the Broncos quickly jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Utah State had three errors in the first inning to go with Boise State's six hits, which resulted into six runs. The Broncos worked through their entire lineup again in the second, plating another eight runs.

Utah State got on the board in the bottom of the third. Hunter was the first player on base with a single to third, while Buttacavoli hit her second home run of the day to score both. Boise State added a solo shot in the top of the fourth, but the Aggies answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning after a Bronco pitching change. Freshman shortstop Joely Williamson led off with a single to right field, while senior third baseman Amee Aarhus reached on a Bronco error. Williamson was able to score on that play, while Aarhus made it to third. Junior first baseman Bailee Trapp then added a home run of her own to bring Aarhus home.

In the bottom of the fifth, Utah State quickly loaded the bases, as Plogger, Buttacavoli and junior catcher/designated player Bailey Lewis each hit a single. A sac fly from freshman second baseman Stephanie Reed brought Plogger home. Though the Aggies plated a run, it wasn't enough to keep the game going and the Broncos took their second win of the day.

Boise State had 11 hits to Utah State's nine, while the Broncos had just one error to Utah State's four. Utah State returns to non-conference play with a pair of midweek games this week, as the Aggies will play a doubleheader against Idaho State and Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, March 21. Mountain West play will continue next weekend, when the Aggies travel for a three-game series at UNLV, March 23-25.

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.