5
Winner
Utah State
US
14-15
Score By Periods
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Utah State
US
|
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
|
New Mexico
UNM
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
W: Reynolds, Mia (5-6)
L: LINTON (9-4)
S: Toone, Kapri (2)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Utah State softball (14-15, 1-0 MW) opened Mountain West play with a 5-4 victory over New Mexico (20-10, 1-3 MW) on Friday night.
Senior catcher
Gabriella Jimenez and junior designated player
Makenzie Macfarlane led the Aggies with two hits each. Jimenez also led the team with two RBIs.
USU took an early 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in both the top of the first and second innings.
Jimenez got the scoring started for the Aggies as she had a double to right field and scored on an RBI single from senior shortstop
Lexi Orozco in the top of the first. Orozco scored the second run of the inning on an RBI single from Macfarlane.
Senior first baseman
Bri Lerma had a lead-off single in the top of the second and advanced to second on a single from sophomore right fielder
Libbie Hawker. Jimenez brought Lerma and Hawker home with a two-RBI single to center field to give Utah State the 4-0 advantage.
Sophomore second baseman
Zaia Castruita recorded her first home run of the season with a lead-off homer to center field in the top of the fifth to extend the Aggie lead to 5-0.
After the Lobos scored three runs with no outs in the bottom of the frame, senior pitcher
Kapri Toone entered the circle for the Aggies and recorded the three outs to end the fifth.
UNM scored once more in the bottom of the sixth to trim the USU edge to 5-4 heading into the final inning.
New Mexico had two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but a pop up to Castruita at second base sealed the 5-4 USU victory.
Freshman
Mia Reynolds made the start in the circle for the Aggies, where she recorded four strikeouts and one walk in her 4.0 innings of work. She was relieved by Toone, who struck out one Lobo batter and walked two in her 3.0 innings pitched.
Utah State and New Mexico will play Game 2 of the three-game series on Saturday, March 26, at 4 p.m.
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 –
