POCATELLO, Idaho – After Idaho State scored eight runs in the bottom of the third inning, Utah State softball found itself in a position where the Aggies needed to quickly put runs on the board.
 
And they did just that.
 
USU (24-18, 9-3 Mountain West) went down in order in each of the first three innings, but the Aggies turned around with an eight-run inning of their own in the top of the fourth to tie the game up at 8-apiece.
 
Freshman designated player Ariel Lopez player drew a walk and advanced to third after senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez singled to center field. Senior shortstop Lexi Orozco then brought the pair home with a three-run blast. The home run marked the 38th homer of Orozco's career as she is now just one bomb shy of tying the program record of 39.
 
The Aggies weren't done yet. Sophomore second baseman Zaia Castruita and junior first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane each drew a walk before senior right fielder Bri Lerma loaded the bases with a single to left field.
 
Senior left fielder Emily Tidd then stepped up to the plate and swung at the first pitch she saw, knocking it out of the park. The grand slam, the first homer of Tidd's career, trimmed the margin to 8-7.
 
Freshman third baseman Claire Raley rounded out the Aggie scoring in the top of the fourth after she singled to left field, stole second and advanced to third on a single from junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane. Raley then made it the final 60 feet to tie it at 8-apiece on a Lopez sacrifice fly.
 
The game stayed knotted until USU put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth to lead 10-8. Raley found her way around the bases once again for the Aggies as she singled to center field, stole second, advanced to third on a single from Mazie Macfarlane and scored on a Bengal passed ball.
 
Mazie Macfarlane then scored the 10th Aggie run of the day after she also stole second before advancing to third on the passed ball. Orozco scored the center fielder with a sacrifice fly to right field. The sac fly marked Orozco's fourth RBI of the day as she set the new program record for career RBIs with 135.
 
Idaho State (19-21, 3-6 Big Sky) scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth to trim the Utah State lead to 10-9. Tidd drew a walk in the top of the seventh, but she would be the only Aggie to get on base in the frame.
 
With a runner on and one out in the bottom of the inning, Idaho State grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game as USU won 10-9.
 
Freshman Mia Reynolds made the start in the circle for the Aggies, recording one strikeout and one walk in her 2.1 innings of work. She was relieved by senior Kapri Toone, who struck out three batters and walked three in her 4.2 innings pitched to earn her 10th win of the season.
 
Utah State resumes conference play at UNLV (30-10, 8-4 MW) on Friday, April 22, Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24.
 
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 -