LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball (28-28, 13-11 Mountain West) ended its 2022 campaign with a 6-5 comeback victory against San José State (22-29, 7-17 MW) at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field on Saturday.
 
"It was great," head coach Steve Johnson said. "We've been battling trying to get that winning season, that .500 season. We started off hot again with another home run. We got down there, but just like we've talked all year about taking it inning by inning, pitch by pitch and being resilient. They just kept battling back. You saw the work from everybody, from the top of the order to the bottom of the order. People got things done. They did it for each other and that's what you like to see in these moments."
 
The 2022 USU squad continued to leave its mark in the history books as two Aggies set single-season records on Saturday. Senior catcher Gabriella Jimenez added to her single-season home run record to bring her 2022 total to 15. The homer marked her 49th RBI of the year, which ranks first all-time on the program's single-season record list. Junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth, marking her 46th run scored in 2022 to rank first on the single-season record list.
 
The duo joined senior shortstop Lexi Orozco and senior right fielder Bri Lerma at the top of Utah State records. Orozco finished her Aggie career ranking first in RBIs (138) and slugging percentage (.631), and tied for first in home runs (39). Lerma set the program single-season hit by pitch record after being hit 15 times in the 2022 campaign.
 
Jimenez got the scoring started for the Aggies on Saturday with solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first to give USU the 1-0 lead.
 
The Spartans responded a couple of innings later with a five-run outing in the top of the third for the 5-1 advantage.
 
Utah State shortened the margin to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame. Jimenez drew a walk and advanced two bases on another Aggie walk and a fielder's choice. She made it the final 60 feet on a fielder's choice. Sophomore second baseman Zaia Castruita scored USU's second run of the inning on a RBI single from senior left fielder Emily Tidd.
 
After junior first baseman Makenzie Macfarlane drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth, Tidd stepped up to the plate and tied the game at 5-apiece with a two-run home run to center field.
 
"I was just trying to put the bat on the ball," Tidd said. "I do my best when I go up and don't think. I just went up there not thinking. I normally swing at the first pitch, and I swung at the first pitch. It was right there and I took it right back up the middle."
 
Mazie Macfarlane scored the game-winning run after drawing a walk in the bottom of the sixth, advancing to second after Orozco drew a walk and scoring on a Castruita RBI single.
 
The leadoff Spartan batter in the top of the seventh drew a walk, but the Aggies retired the next three in order to end the season with the 6-5 victory.
 
Senior Kapri Toone pitched her ninth complete game of the season, striking out two SJSU batters to earn the 32nd victory of her career.
 
USU celebrated Senior Day following the win as the Aggies honored their six seniors: Jimenez, Lerma, Orozco, Sydnee Smith, Tidd and Toone.
 
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 -