LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball (13-15) recorded an 8-3 victory over Utah Valley (10-11, 1-2 WAC) at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field on Wednesday.

"This was a big win for us," head coach Steve Johnson said. "When we're playing in-state opponents, we want to protect the state and try to be the best in the state. Bouncing back from a couple of rough games over the weekend and getting ourselves ready for the first conference games, this was good. We got our bats going again. We had very aggressive base running and were able to do a few things that put pressure on the opposing team. We took advantage of a few errors and a few freebies, and that's what we're looking for."
 
Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco and sophomore right fielder Libbie Hawker led the Aggies with two hits each. Defensively, sophomore second baseman Zaia Castruita led USU with four putouts and one assist.
 
Orozco got one step closer to breaking the USU all-time home run record on Wednesday after recording a two-run bomb down the left field line in the bottom of the first to score senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez. Orozco now has 36 career homers and needs just four more to break the program record.
 
UVU scored one run in the top of the fourth, but USU came out hot in the bottom of the frame.
 
Senior first baseman Bri Lerma drew a walk to open the bottom of the inning. Junior designated player Makenzie Macfarlane reached first on a fielder's choice and Lerma advanced to third on a Wolverine throwing error. Junior Tyler Thornton came in as pinch runner for Macfarlane and stole second. Third baseman Claudia Medina brought Lerma and Thornton home with a bunt as the freshman reached second on the play.
 
Hawker stepped up to the plate and doubled to center field to score Medina. The Aggies later loaded the bases after junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane, freshman left fielder Claire Raley and Jimenez each drew a walk. Mazie Macfarlane scored the final run of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Orozco to give USU a 6-1 edge at the end of the fourth.
 
USU scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth after Lerma reached on an error and Makenzie Macfarlane doubled to right field. Senior Sydnee Smith came in as a pinch runner for Makenzie Macfarlane. Smith and Lerma scored on a Hawker single as Utah State held an 8-1 advantage at the end of the fifth.
 
Utah Valley scored two runs in the top of the sixth to trim the USU lead to 8-3.
 
With two outs and runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, junior reliever Alyssa Millemon found herself facing UVU fifth-year first baseman Mikaela Thomson. Thomson had a hand in all three Wolverine runs on Wednesday after recording a solo home run in the top of the fourth and a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. After a 2-0 start to the at-bat, Millemon threw three-straight strikes to strike Thomson out looking as the Aggies held on for the 8-3 win.

"I felt like we did a good job of playing as a team," Hawker said. "Before this game, we talked about winning every inning and that was something we did today. It felt great. Today, we really came together and did what we had to do to take care of some business."
 
Freshman Mia Reynolds earned her fourth victory of the season after making the start in the circle for the Aggies. Reynolds pitched for 5.0 innings, recording one strikeout and walking three batters. Millemon relieved Reynolds in the top of the sixth, recording two strikeouts in her 2.0 innings of work.
 
Utah State next opens Mountain West play with a three-game series at New Mexico (20-9, 1-2 MW) beginning on Friday, March 25, at 6 p.m., in Albuquerque.
 
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.
 
– USU –