Box Score FRESNO, Calif. – Utah State softball (21-15, 7-0 MW) extended its win streak to nine with a 9-3 victory over Fresno State (9-28, 2-8 MW) on Friday night.
USU's nine-game winning streak is its best since 1993, when the Aggies reeled off 11 straight.
Utah State's 7-0 mark in Mountain West play is its second-best start in league action in program history, trailing USU's 11-0 start in the Intermountain Athletic Conference in 1981, the same year the Aggies won the AIAW World Series.
The Bulldogs scored one run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
Senior shortstop
Lexi Orozco doubled to right center in the top of the second and scored on an RBI single from sophomore second baseman
Zaia Castruita to tie it up at 1-apiece.
Neither team scored again until the sixth inning. Castruita doubled to center field and junior
Tyler Thornton came in as a pinch runner for the second baseman. Thornton scored on a throwing error to give USU a 2-1 lead.
Fresno State tied it up at 2-each with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame.
The top of the seventh proved to be fatal as the Aggies scored seven runs to take a 9-2 edge.
Freshman left fielder
Claire Raley drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch to lead off the top of the frame. Junior center fielder
Mazie Macfarlane reached on a Fresno State error before she also stole second. The duo scored on a Bulldog throwing error that allowed senior catcher
Gabriella Jimenez to reach first. Freshman
Ariel Lopez then came in as a pinch runner for Jimenez.
Utah State loaded the bases after Orozco and Castruita drew back-to-back walks. Lopez scored the third run of the inning and Orozco and Castruita each advanced a base on a passed ball. Junior first baseman
Makenzie Macfarlane then had a two-RBI single to second base to score Orozco and Castruita, and give the Aggies the 7-2 advantage.
Senior right fielder
Bri Lerma was hit by a pitch for the ninth time this season. Another Bulldog error brought
Makenzie Macfarlane and Lerma home as Utah State led 9-2 heading into the bottom of the inning.
Fresno State scored one more run in the bottom of the seventh as USU held on for the 9-3 victory.
Senior
Kapri Toone made the start in the circle for the Aggies, recording one strike out in her 4.1 innings of work. She was relieved by freshman
Mia Reynolds, who had three strikeouts in her 1.2 innings pitched. Sophomore
Jessica Stewart entered the circle in the final inning, striking out one batter and walking another in her 1.0 innings of work.
Utah State and Fresno State next face off on Saturday, April 9, at 4 p.m. (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 –
