LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – Utah State softball had a strong start to its slate of games at Golden State Classic Friday, as it swept its two games. The Aggies opened the day in an 11-10 win over Hawai'i, following that with a 5-1 victory over Portland State.

USU had a big day at the plate, tallying 24 hits between the two games. The Aggies finished the day with eight doubles, one triple and five home runs. The team also had a clean day defensively, going error-free for the first time this season. 

GAME ONE
Utah State took the lead early in the marathon game against Hawai'i, never trailing. Extra-base hits highlighted the game, as the Aggies combined to hit six doubles, one triple and three home runs. Sophomore shortstop Lexi Orzoco was a perfect 3-for-3 against the Rainbow Wahine, hitting two doubles and her first home run of the season. She also drew the team's only walk of the game. 

After a lead-off out, senior outfielder Riley Plogger hit the first double of the day. Freshman outfielder Mazie Macfarlane followed with a single off the Hawai'i pitcher, sending Plogger home. Freshman catcher Makenzie Macfarlane then hit the first home run of her collegiate career, putting the Aggies up 3-0. Hawai'i hit a lead-off home run in the inning, later adding a single. A double play highlighted the inning for the USU defense, keeping the 'Bows from scoring again. 

Utah State was held scoreless in the second inning, though junior outfielder Stephanie Reed hit a single. Hawai'i pulled within a run in the bottom half, using two hits to bring a run across. 

Both teams had explosive performances in the third, as the inning ended in a 6-6 tie. Utah State opened the inning with back-to-back doubles from Makenzie Macfarlane and Orozco. Junior third baseman Kennedy Hira singled, but an error at the plate allowed her to take second and Orozco to score. After a groundout moved Hira to third, senior second baseman Ryann Holmes drilled a fly ball to left field. The ball was dropped, driving Hira home and giving Holmes time to get to second. Hawai'i evened things up in the bottom of the inning with a pair of singles and a three-run home run before senior pitcher Alissa Noble got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts. 

Mazie Macfarlane got the fourth inning started with a double through the left side. The Wahine made a pitching change after a strikeout, but Orozco drilled a home run through center field to put the Aggies back in the lead. The fifth inning moved quickly, where USU added a double from Holmes. Reed followed with USU's first triple of the season, but Holmes was thrown out at home on the play. The Utah State defense then had its only 1-2-3 inning of the game.

The sixth inning was another busy one, with a combined seven runs scored. Mazie Macfarlane led off with a single, but got out when Makenzie Macfarlane reached on a fielder's choice. Freshman Tyler Thornton came in to pinch run then, while Orozco hit her second double of the game. A sac fly from Hira allowed Thornton to score, then sophomore first baseman Gabriella Jimenez cleared the bases with a home run. Holmes added a single before the end of the half-inning, but was left on. Hawai'i nearly made the comeback in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on five hits. A single and a three-run home run put four runs on the board, but a grounder to shortstop got the Aggies out of the inning. 

Utah State got two runners on in the seventh, as Plogger was hit by a pitch and Mazie Macfarlane reached on a fielder's choice. The Aggies changed pitchers for the final half-inning, giving up a double, but holding the Wahine off. 

In her six innings of work, Noble struck out four batters, earning her second win of the season. Hull added one strikeout in her inning, recording her first save of the year. Utah State had 16 hits to Hawai'i's 15. The Rainbow Wahine had two errors in the contest.

GAME TWO
Returning to the field in the afternoon, Utah State had a change of pace. 

Portland State scored first and early, plating a run on a pair of singles. The Aggie defense responded well though, retiring 14 batters in a row. That streak ended in the top of the sixth, when the Vikings loaded the bases on a double and a pair of walks. Having moved to first base, Makenzie Macfarlane made the final out to get out of the jam. Portland State added one last hit in the seventh, but was unable to cross the plate again. 

Offensively, Utah State's strong hitting continued. Mazie Macfarlane had the first hit of the game with a single in the first inning. After a quick third, she and Plogger added extra-base hits in the fourth. Plogger put the Aggies on the board with a solo shot, while Macfarlane doubled. 

The Aggies really got things going in the bottom of the fourth. Orozco hit a lead-off single, followed by a one-pitch single from Hira. Orozco scored on a double from Jimenez, then Holmes drove in both runners with a single to right field. A double play and a fly ball ended the inning with the Aggies up, 4-1. Utah State then added one more insurance run in the fifth, when Mazie Macfarlane hit her first-career home run. 

Hull pitched the complete game for USU, striking out three batters. The Aggies had eight hits to the Viks' four, and neither team committed an error. 

Utah State continues play in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, when it takes on San Diego at 10 a.m. (MT), and UC Davis at 3 p.m. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16, when the Aggies take on Seton Hall at 10 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.