ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (3-8) opened its weekend at the Dixie State Tournament Friday, splitting a pair of games. The Aggies started the day in a 4-3 win over Northern Colorado, ending it in a 5-3 loss to host Dixie State.

With the win over Northern Colorado, USU head coach Steve Johnson recorded his 300th victory as a collegiate head coach. Of his 300, 147 have come in his tenure at Utah State.

GAME ONE
Starting the weekend the same way they ended the previous one, the Aggies opened the tournament in a 4-3 walk-off win.

Northern Colorado struck first, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. With two runners on, a single sent the first run home, while a Utah State error gave the Bears the 2-0 lead. USU responded in the bottom of the third. After having six straight batters retired to start the game, freshman third baseman Zaia Castruita led-off the third with a double. She took third on a groundout, scoring on a sac fly from senior outfielder Kayla Fielder.

The Bears extended their lead in the fourth. While the Aggies got the first two batters out, a triple and a single followed to send a run home. USU made its best effort to catch up, getting two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. After back-to-back strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth, Fielder hit a single to right field. Senior outfielder Stephanie followed, delivering her first home run of the season to tie the score at 3.

The Aggies again got two runners into scoring position in the sixth, adding a single in the seventh, but was unable to take the lead, forcing extra innings. Paying international tiebreaker rules, each half-inning started with a runner on second. Both teams were retired in order in the eighth, while the Aggies also retired the Bears' side in the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, sophomore outfielder Mazie Macfarlane was placed on second. She took third on a wild pitch, while junior designated player Sydnee Smith was walked. A sac fly from Castruita provided the opportunity for Macfarlane to cross the plate and give the Aggies the win.

Junior pitcher Kapri Toone started the game for Utah State, throwing five innings before being relieved by senior Delaney Hull. Together, the pair struck out seven batters and walked three.

GAME TWO
Taking on the tournament host for the second game of the day, the Aggies gave up the lead early on and were never able to take it back. Dixie State took advantage of a USU error and a wild pitch, bringing two runs in in the bottom of the first.

Utah State got on the board in the second inning, cutting Dixie State's lead in half. Mazie Macfarlane opened the inning, reaching base on a Trailblazer error. After taking second on a groundout, a single from Smith sent her home. The teams continued to battle, but Dixie State extended its lead with a solo home run in the fourth.

The Aggies responded quickly, plating a run in the top of the fifth. The inning started off with a single from Fielder, followed by a double from Reed. However, both runners tried to squeeze one more base out of the play, and both were caught out. USU stayed alive though, as junior first baseman Gabriella Jimenez reached on a Dixie State error, making it all the way to third base. Junior shortstop Lexi Orozco was walked next, taking second on a wild pitch. A single from sophomore catcher Makenzie Macfarlane drove Jimenez home in time, but Macfarlane was putout trying to get to second, ending the half-inning.

Dixie State took control again with a run in the fifth off a double and single, then adding to it with a solo home run in the sixth. The Aggies made one last push in the seventh, but couldn't catch the Trailblazers. Reed reached base on an error in deep left field, speeding all the way to third. She then scored on a groundout from Jimenez, but a strikeout ended the game.

Despite the loss, freshman pitcher Jessica Stewart tallied a career-high eight strikeouts in the game. Stewart pitched 5.1 innings, with Toone throwing the final two outs.

Play from St. George continues on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Aggies will start the day against in-state rival Weber State at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a rematch with Northern Colorado.

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.