ST. GEORGE, Utah - Utah State softball (3-4) split its Saturday doubleheader at Dixie State (1-6) in St. George, Utah, as the Aggies lost 9-5 in the first game before posting an 8-2 victory in game two. 

Utah State trailed early as Dixie State took a 4-0 lead in the first inning of game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Sophomore third baseman Zaia Castruita was able to get into scoring position in the second, but neither team scored in the inning. 

The Aggies went down in order in the third and gave up three runs as the Trailblazers led 7-0 at the end of the inning. 

Two USU players got on base in the fourth, but they never made it home. Dixie State added one more run to the board to hold an 8-0 lead.

Senior first baseman Bri Lerma singled up the middle to lead off for the Aggies in the top of the fifth. Junior Tyler Thornton came into pinch run for the Aggies and scored after freshman designated player Taryn Edds doubled to right center. Junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane later doubled to left field to plate Edds. Freshman second baseman Ariel Lopez then walked to give Utah State runners on first and second. Senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez doubled to right field to plate both Macfarlane and Lopez and trim the lead to 8-4. 

The Trailblazers scored one run in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 9-4.

Senior right fielder Sydnee Smith singled to left field for the Aggies' lone hit in the sixth inning. Dixie State also only had one hit as both teams went scoreless in the sixth.

The Aggies loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh after sophomore left fielder Libbie Hawker singled, Macfarlane walked and Lopez walked. Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco's sacrifice pop up brought home Hawker, but that would be it for USU as Dixie State won it 9-5.

Freshman Mia Reynolds made the start for the Aggies in the circle where she posted two strikeouts and one walk in her 2.0 innings of work. She was relieved by junior Alyssa Millemon who had one strikeout in her 2.0 innings pitched. Junior Nya Laing came in for the Aggies in the final two innings as she had two strikeouts and one walk in her 2.0 innings pitched.

Utah State came out swinging in game two against the Trailblazers as the Aggies scored five runs in the top of the first. USU loaded the bases after a Lopez bunt single, Orozco walked and Edds reached on an error. Castruita hit a shot up the right side to plate Lopez and Orozco. In the next at bat, Smith homered to left field to give the Aggies the 5-0 edge. Dixie State brought in one run in the bottom of the inning as the Aggies led, 5-1.

The Aggies went down in order in the top of the second. The Trailblazers had one player get on base after a USU error, but neither team scored in the inning. 

Edds doubled in the top of the third and later scored after a Castruita single. Dixie State scored one run in the bottom of the inning as the Aggies led 6-2.

Macfarlane walked in the top of the fourth and stole second. She advanced to third after Lopez singled and then stole home to give USU a 7-2 lead. The Aggies then put away the Trailblazers in order in the bottom of the inning. 

Though both teams put players on base in the fifth, neither team scored in the inning.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Medina reached on an error. Back-to-back singles from Jimenez and Edds loaded the bases. Medina then scored on a wild pitch as the Aggies led 8-2. The first Trailblazer up to bat in the bottom of the inning walked, but the Aggies put away the next three to hold Dixie State scoreless in the sixth.

Junior Makenzie Macfarlane came in as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh and singled to center field, but she would be the only Aggie to get on base in the inning. Utah State did not allow a run in the bottom of the inning as USU won, 8-2.

Senior Kapri Toone made the start in the circle and pitched all seven innings for the Aggies. 

Utah State concludes its three-game series at Dixie State on Sunday, Feb. 20, as the Aggies and Trailblazers face off at noon.