Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PHOENIX, Ariz. – Returning to play at the Grand Canyon Purple Classic after a day of rain, Utah State softball dropped a pair of run-rule games Sunday. The Aggies fell to Drake, 8-0, and CSUN, 11-3, in five-inning decisions.

GAME ONE
Things fell Drake's way from the very beginning, as the Bulldogs picked up a hit on their lead-off batter. They gained momentum from there, scoring seven runs between the second and third innings. Drake used four hits and two walks to keep runners on base. The Bulldogs walked off the run-rule win in the fifth inning. With runners on from a USU error and a hit-by-pitch, a passed ball at the plate allowed the final run to score. 

Utah State had three hits in the loss, with two singles from sophomore catcher/first baseman Gabriella Jimenez and one from junior outfielder Stephanie Reed. Junior Delaney Hull and redshirt senior Alissa Noble split time in the circle for the Aggies, each pitching 2.1 innings and striking out a combined five batters. 

GAME TWO
Back to the field right away, Utah State fell behind in the top of the first inning against CSUN. A two-run home run put the Matadors on the board, and the lead grew from there, going up 5-0 before the Aggies had a chance to bat. CSUN then added back-to-back home runs in the second. Utah State got its first runners on in the bottom of the second, but were unable to score. 

Three hits for the Matadors turned into another run in the third, but the Aggies were able to answer in the bottom of the inning. Reed reached base on an error as the lead-off batter, taking second on a groundout. Freshman outfielder Mazie Macfarlane and sophomore shortstop Lexi Orozco followed with back-to-back doubles, scoring two runs for the Aggies. 

CSUN responded with another run in the fourth, as three-straight batters singled. In the home half of the inning, senior second baseman Allanah Alvarado drew a lead-off walk, advancing to third on a double from Reed. Senior outfielder Riley Plogger then drove a single up the middle to send Alvarado home. CSUN opened the fifth inning with another three hits, resulting in a pair of runs. Jimenez reached on an error in the bottom of the inning, but when the Aggies weren't able to score, the game came to an end. 

Utah State finished the game with six hits to CSUN's 17, while the Matadors had two errors and the Aggies had one. Sophomore pitcher Kapri Toone made the start for USU, with sophomore Chloe Nightingale throwing the final four innings. Each pitcher had one strikeout in the game. 

The Aggies return to action next weekend at the Capital Classic, co-hosted by Sacramento State and UC Davis. USU will begin the tournament with two games in Sacramento on Friday, Feb. 28, taking on Saint Mary's at 10 a.m. (MT), and Sacramento State at 12:30 p.m. Play will move to Davis on Saturday, Feb. 29, as the Aggies take on Texas State at 10 a.m., and UC Davis at 12:30 p.m. Returning to Sacramento for the tournament finale, USU will play Santa Clara on Sunday, March 1, 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.