LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – Highlighted by a five-inning no-hitter to start the day, Utah State softball posted a 2-0 record at the Golden State Classic Saturday, defeating San Diego, 8-0, and UC Davis, 5-3. 

GAME ONE
Utah State made quick work of San Diego, recording its first run-rule victory of the season. 

Both teams went down in order through the first and second innings, but the Aggie bats came alive in the third. Junior third baseman Kennedy Hira hit a lead-off double to center field, taking third later on a single from senior designated player Allanah Alvarado. Junior outfielder Stephanie Reed followed with her first home run of the season to clear the bases for the first runs of the game. 

Senior outfielder Riley Plogger kept things going with a single, driving San Diego to make its first pitching change. Freshman outfielder Mazie Macfarlane drew a four-pitch walk next, taking second while Plogger got caught in a run-down trying to steal third. Freshman first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane then reached base on a USD error. Mazie Macfarlane scored on a single from sophomore shortstop Lexi Orozco, while Makenzie Macfarlane crossed the plate on a double from sophomore catcher Gabriella Jimenez. Hira was walked then, loading the bases with two outs and forcing another pitching change from the Toreros. Holmes took first on a USD error, where the Aggies tacked on another run, taking a 6-0 lead before the inning ended. 

Reed led-off the fourth inning with a single, while Plogger was walked. Back-to-back fielder's choice plays on the Macfarlane twins left runners at second and third with two outs, where both runners scored on Jimenez's second double of the game. The Toreros moved to their fourth pitcher of the day, making the final out of the half-inning on a fly ball. 

Utah State was able to utilize several subs in the fifth inning, with freshman Tyler Thornton and sophomore Emily Tidd coming in to pinch hit. The Aggies got one more base runner on, as Alvarado walked, but the inning ended on a grounder back to the circle. 

The USU defense allowed just two runners in the game, with one hit-by-pitch and one walk. Making her first start of the year, Toone recorded just the seventh known no-hitter in program history, and the first by a Utah State pitcher since the 2017 season. She tallied three strikeouts in the win. 

GAME TWO
The teams moved quickly through the early innings of the all-Aggie affair Saturday afternoon. Both had one hit in the first inning, but a double play highlighted the USU defense's end of it to keep UC Davis from scoring. Utah State loaded the bases on an error and a pair of walks in the second, but a groundout left all runners stranded. 

UC Davis was first on the board, capitalizing on a pair of singles to plate a run in the bottom of the third. Utah State responded well though, as Jimenez drilled a lead-off home run to right field to start the fourth. 

After both teams were retired in order in the fifth, things started to get interesting in the sixth. Makenzie Macfarlane led off the inning with a single to right center. Orozco then went to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but a misthrown ball drove her clear to third and the pinch-running Thornton across the plate. Jimenez followed with a walk, then after an out, Holmes homered to put USU up, 5-1.

The opposing Aggies added two runs in the bottom of the sixth, when a single mixed with a fluke error in center field. Utah State made a pitching change and the defense bounced back, retiring six of the next seven batters.

Junior Delaney Hull made the start in the circle for Utah State, striking out one batter in her five innings of work. Throwing the final two innings of the game, Toone earned her first save of the season. It is the fourth save of her career, which ties for fifth on the USU career saves record list. 

Play at the Golden State Classic will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16, when the Aggies take on Seton Hall at 10 a.m. (MT).

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.