SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Utah State softball (4-6) split its first two games of the Silicon Valley Classic I on Friday. The Aggies opened the day with an 8-2 victory over Sacramento State (4-7) before falling 5-4 to Santa Clara (7-7).
 
USU was led by freshman second baseman Ariel Lopez with four hits and senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez with three RBIs.
 
Sacramento State held an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. However, Utah State countered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. Junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane got the scoring started for the Aggies after drawing a walk. Macfarlane advanced to second after Lopez reached first on a fielding error. Macfarlane scored after Jimenez doubled to right field. Back-to-back ground-out RBIs from senior shortstop Lexi Orozco and sophomore third baseman Zaia Castruita plated Jimenez and Lopez as USU held a 3-2 lead after the first.
 
The Aggies scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead to 7-2. Lopez reached first on a fielder's choice and then scored after a Jimenez double to center field. Orozco singled down the right-field line to score Jimenez. Castruita hit a shot through the right side and then she and Orozco advanced to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. Back-to-back singles from senior right fielder Sydnee Smith and freshman designated player Taryn Edds plated Orozco and Castruita. The inning ended with the next two at-bats after a line out and ground out.
 
Macfarlane scored the lone run for Utah State in the bottom of the fourth after she singled through the right side and stole second. With one out, Jimenez sent a shot up the middle to bring Macfarlane home as USU took the 8-2 edge.
 
Neither team scored in the next 2.5 innings as the Aggies secured the 8-2 victory.
 
Senior Kapri Toone made the start in the circle for USU, recording two strikeouts and three walks in her 6.0 innings of work. Sophomore Jessica Stewart made her first appearance in the circle this season as she relieved Toone in the top of the seventh.
 
Utah State had a strong start against Santa Clara as the Aggies scored two runs in the top of the first. Macfarlane drew a walk to get things started and Lopez followed with a bunt single. Lopez and Macfarlane stole second and third, respectively. Macfarlane then scored on a throwing error and Lopez advanced to third. Jimenez walked and stole second. Edds recorded a sacrifice fly to score Lopez and round out the Aggie scoring in the inning. Santa Clara responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to lead 3-2.
 
The Aggies tied it up at 3-3 in the top of the second after sophomore left fielder Libbie Hawker doubled to left field and scored on a Lopez single.
 
The teams stayed knotted until Santa Clara broke the hold with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
 
USU responded with a run in the top of the sixth to trim the Bronco edge to 5-4. Freshman third baseman Claire Raley singled to right field, advanced to second on a ground out and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Macfarlane grounded out in the next at-bat to score Raley, but that would be it for Aggies as the Broncos won it 5-4.
 
Junior Nya Laing started for USU against SCU, recording one strikeout and one walk in her 2.0 innings of work. Laing was relieved by freshman Mia Reynolds, who pitched 2.1 innings and had one strikeout. She was then relieved by Stewart, who posted one strikeout in her 1.2 innings of work.
 
Utah State continues its run at the Silicon Valley Classic I on Saturday, Feb. 26, as the Aggies take on Saint Mary's (4-8) in a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m. (MT) and 4 p.m. (MT).  
 
For more information on the Utah State softball program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUSoftball, on Facebook at USUSoftball and on Instagram at ususoftball. 
 
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