Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. -

Valparaiso 5, Utah State 4 (8)

Northern Colorado 3, Utah State 2 (8)

Continuing play at the UC Davis-hosted Aggie Invitational, Utah State softball fell to Valparaiso, 5-4, and Northern Colorado, 3-2, in two eight-inning games Friday. Freshman Delaney Hull pitched the complete game against Valparaiso, striking out a career-best six batters, while walking three. Sophomore Kellie White then threw the full game against Northern Colorado, tallying seven strikeouts and walking six batters. Offensively, senior outfielder Emily Hunter led the Aggies as she hit .714 (5-of-7) between the two games.

With the two losses, Utah State falls to 9-9 on the season.

Utah State was forced to play catch-up from the beginning of the game against Valparaiso, as the Crusaders scored two runs in the top of the first. Each of those first runs came on an error by the Aggie defense. The Aggies hit two doubles in the bottom of the second, but could not get a runner home.

Valpo extended its lead in the top of the fourth, with a single and two-run home run. Utah State had its best inning of the game in the bottom half of the fourth. After back-to-back walks, Hunter hit a single to load the bases. A Crusader error put junior first baseman Bailee Trapp on first, but all runners had time to advance another base and two crossed the plate. Pinch hitting, sophomore Allanah Alvarado drew a walk. Senior third baseman Amee Aarhus struck out, but a dropped third strike allowed her to get to first, while Hunter crossed the plate.

The Aggies added another run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at four. With runners on second and third, Hunter hit into a fielder's choice. She then used the throw to advance to second, with freshman Emery Marshall crossing the plate while the Crusaders tried to throw Hunter out.

After neither team could score in the sixth or seventh innings, the game went to an eighth. With runners automatically placed at second, a single to center field was all it took for Valparaiso to score. Retired in order, the Aggies were unable to answer in the bottom half of the inning and the Crusaders took the 5-4 win.

Utah State out-hit Valparaiso, 7-5 in the game, while the Aggies had three errors to the Crusaders' two.

With a quick turnaround, Utah State was back on the field to take on Northern Colorado. The Aggies and Bears faced a fairly defensive battle, until USU got on the board in the top of the fifth. With two outs, junior outfielder Mia Maher singled to shortstop and then stole second. Aarhus then hit a double to left, bringing Maher across the plate.

Northern Colorado batters were retired in order in the bottom of the fifth, but tied the score in the sixth inning, scoring on a wild pitch. Both teams went down in order in the seventh inning, forcing an extra. As Aarhus started the inning on second, she moved to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a sac fly from Trapp. In the bottom of the inning, the Bears tied the score at two on a Utah State error. A single down the left field line then brought the go-ahead run in, ending the game, 3-2, in Northern Colorado's favor.

Utah State tallied four hits to Northern Colorado's three, while the Aggies had two errors in the contest. Action at the Aggie Invitational will conclude on Saturday, March 10. The Aggies will play a doubleheader with a rematch against Northern Colorado at 10 a.m. (MT) and a game against UC Davis immediately following.

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.