FRESNO, Calif. – Utah State softball (21-17, 7-2 Mountain West) lost 4-3 in an extra-inning game to Fresno State (11-28, 4-8 MW) on Sunday.
 
Fresno State took an early 1-0 lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the first.
 
USU tied it up at 1-apiece in the top of the fifth after senior right fielder Bri Lerma was hit by a pitch and advanced to second after freshman Taryn Edds drew a walk. Junior Tyler Thornton then entered the game as a pinch runner for Lerma and scored on an RBI single to center field from junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane.
 
Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco gave USU the 2-1 edge in the top of the sixth with a lead-off homer to left field. The home run marked the 10th of the season for Orozco and the 37th in her career. The senior is now two homers away from tying and three from breaking the Utah State program record for career home runs.
 
The Bulldogs tied the game up at 2-each with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Neither team scored in the seventh to force an eighth inning.
 
Sophomore second baseman Zaia Castruita reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the eighth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane scored Castruita with an RBI single to left field as USU held the 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
 
Fresno State scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 4-3 win.
 
Senior Kapri Toone made the start in the circle for the Aggies, recording two strikeouts and two walks in her 5.2 innings of work. She was relieved by freshman Mia Reynolds, who struck out two batters and walked three in her 1.1 innings pitched.
 
Utah State next hosts Nevada (12-27, 2-9 MW) on Thursday, April 14, at 4 p.m. (MT), Friday, April 15, at 4 p.m. (MT), and Saturday, April 16, at noon (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.
 
– USU –