LOGAN, Utah – Trailing Weber State by one with two outs and a runner on third, Zaia Castruita stepped up to the plate and hit a bomb over the left field wall to secure the 11-10 walk-off victory for Utah State on Tuesday at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field.
 
The homer marked the second of the season for the sophomore second baseman and was the third walk-off victory for the Aggies (17-15, 3-0 MW) in the 2022 campaign.
 
"It was awesome," Castruita said. "I almost felt like crying. I was just so thankful. I want to give all the glory to God. I wanted to do it for my teammates, and I did."
 
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane got things started for the Aggies with a lead-off homer, her second of the season, to center field in the bottom of the frame.
 
The teams stayed knotted at 1-each through the next three innings until Weber State (22-8, 0-0 Big Sky) scored five runs in the top of the fifth to hold a 6-1 edge.
 
Utah State was unfazed going into the bottom of the frame as the Aggies scored six runs of their own to take a 7-6 lead.
 
Freshman left fielder Claire Raley singled to left field and stole second to lead off in the bottom of the fifth. Raley advanced to third on a USU ground out and scored on a single through the right side from freshman third baseman Claudia Medina.
 
The Aggies loaded the bases after senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez and senior shortstop Lexi Orozco each drew a walk. Medina then scored on a wild pitch that advanced Jimenez and Orozco to third and second, respectively. Castruita reached first on a fielder's choice that brought Jimenez home and advanced Orozco to third on the next at-bat.
 
Utah State once again loaded the bases after junior first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane drew a walk. Senior right fielder Bri Lerma hit a shot up the middle to score Orozco and Castruita for the Aggies' fourth and fifth runs of the inning.
 
Makenzie Macfarlane scored the final USU run of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Raley to give Utah State the 7-6 advantage heading into the sixth.
 
The Wildcats took back the lead in the top of the sixth as Weber State scored three runs in the inning for the 9-7 edge. Makenzie Macfarlane singled down the right field line in the bottom of frame to plate Orozco and cut the lead to 9-8.
 
Weber State scored one more run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 10-8.
 
Back-to-back singles from Medina and Jimenez put Aggie runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Libbie Hawker entered the game as a pinch runner for Jimenez.
 
Orozco doubled to center field to score Medina and advanced to third on the throw home that tagged out Hawker.
 
With two outs and a runner on third, it was then Castruita's turn at the plate.
 
"I just wanted to hit the ball hard," Castruita said. "I asked God to give me the peace to do this for my team. I looked at Lexi and she told me to relax and that I had it. And that was it."
 
Castruita blasted the first pitch she saw cross the plate over the left field wall to lift Utah State to the 11-10 victory over in-state rival Weber State.
 
"We stayed level the whole time," associated head coach Laura Heberling said. "We've been going off energy. Our energy stayed level. We haven't had the ups and downs. We stayed consistent pitching. We stayed consistent hitting and coming back in a big inning. We started off the game with a home run and we ended the game with a home run. You couldn't ask for anything better than this team staying committed to the process to get to the outcome of winning. We're riding an awesome high against a very good team that we played today."
 
Freshman Mia Reynolds made the start in the circle for the Aggies, recording two strike outs and one walk in her 4.2 innings of work. Junior Alyssa Millemon relieved Reynolds in the top of the fifth for the final out of the frame. Sophomore Jessica Stewart pitched the final two innings to earn her sixth win of the season, recording one strike out and two walks during her time in the circle.
 
USU will look to continue its five-game winning streak as the Aggies host Colorado State (11-16, 3-3 MW) on Friday, April 1, Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3.
 
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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