PLAY BALL!
Utah State softball (0-0, 0-0 MW) kicks off the 2023 season with a multi-host tournament in the greater Los Angeles area. The Aggies will face off versus Cal State Fullerton (Fri., 3 p.m. MT), CSU Bakersfield (Fri., 5:30 p.m. MT; Sat., 1:30 p.m. MT), Loyola Marymount (Sat., 11 a.m. MT) and Cal (Sun., 10 a.m. MT) as part of the tournament.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats for all games will be available via StatBroadcast. Links and live updates will be available on the USU softball social media pages and through UtahStateAggies.com.
 
AGGIES VS. TITANS
Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series, 52-22, and has the past four meetings, all in Fullerton, California. The Aggies last won in the series on Feb. 9, 2018, in a 5-2 victory. USU has gone 3-4 against the Titans in neutral matchups.
 
AGGIES VS. ROADRUNNERS
CSU Bakersfield leads the all-time series, 5-4, although the Aggies won the most recent meeting, 14-0 (5), on Feb. 22, 2019. The win snapped a three-game skid in the series for USU and is the only previous time the two sides have meet at a neutral site.
 
AGGIES VS. LIONS
LMU leads the all-time series, 8-3, with the two sides alternating wins and losses in the previous six matchups. The Aggies won the most recent meeting, 7-4, on Feb. 8, 2020. All but one of the previous meetings has come at a neutral site and USU has gone 3-7 in neutral matchups against the Lions.
 
AGGIES VS. GOLDEN BEARS
California leads the all-time series, 10-6, and has won five straight with the last meeting resulting in a 13-1 (5) win on Feb. 18, 2007. The Aggies last beat Cal, 8-4, on Feb. 22, 1997. 15 of the 16 meetings in the series have been at a neutral field, with the Aggies posting a 5-10 record.
 
AGGIE UPSET
Utah State recorded its first victory over a ranked opponent in 12 years after defeating then-No. 22 San Diego State 3-1 on May 7, 2022. The win marked USU's first victory over a top-25 opponent since the Aggies defeated then-No. 1 Washington 7-4 in the opening game of the Campbell-Cartier Classic in San Diego on Feb. 19, 2010.
 
AROUND THE HORN
Utah State went 20-9 last season when the Aggies record a home run in a game. When USU recorded multiple HRs in a contest, that figure improved to 8-2.
 
FIRST UP, FIRST OUT
Over 34 percent of Utah State's home runs in 2022 in the first inning of play, the most of any inning. 15 of USU's 44 long balls came in the opening frame last season. The sixth inning was the second-most population inning for Aggie moon shots, with USU hitting seven total homers in the inning in 2022.
 
FIRST ON THE BOARD
Utah State went 19-9 last season when putting the first run on the board. In palindromic fashion, the Aggies were 9-19 when allowing the first run of the game.
 
SHUT IT DOWN
Utah State's pitching staff recorded four complete-game shutouts in the 2022 season. Freshman Mia Reynolds posted shutout victories against Yale (11-0) and Colorado State (2-0). Former Aggie Kapri Toone also notched complete game shutouts against the Rams (2-0) and San José State (8-0).
 
TOUCHDOWN AGGIES!
Utah State was 22-6 last season when scoring six runs or more, including a perfect 4-0 when reaching double-digits on the scoreboard. The Aggies reached the six-run plateau in exactly half their games in 2022.
 
CREAM OF THE CROP
The Aggies ended 2022 leading the Mountain West in several statistical categories. Utah State led the league in total plate appearances (1,751), at-bats (1,501), sacrifice flies (22), double plays fielded (29), total assists (508), chances (1,715), putout (1,122) and times catching runner stealing (29). Utah State was also tied for 11th, nationally, with 0.52 doubles play per game.
 
Additionally, senior Gabriella Jimenez led the MW in runners caught stealing (19) and also in slugging percentage (.842) and home runs (12) during conference play. Jimenez was also tied for third in the nation in runners caught stealing. Senior Mazie Macfarlane led the league in total plate appearances (216) and, during conference play, was tops in the league for putouts (192), chances (199) and double plays fielded (14).
 
FIELDER'S CHOICE
Utah State recorded 1,122 putouts in 2022, the most by the program since tallying 1,142 putouts in the 2022 season. The Aggies also had 508 assists, the most by the team since 2005 (546).
 
HOT STREAK
Utah State had a nine-game winning streak last season as the Aggies posted victories over Utah Valley (8-3), New Mexico (5-4, 4-2, 13-4), Weber State (11-10), Colorado State (2-0, 2-0, 6-1) and Fresno State (9-3). USU's nine-game winning streak was its best since 1993, when the Aggies reeled off 11 straight. Utah State's 7-0 start in Mountain West play was its second-best league-opening mark 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.
 
LOOK AT ME, I CAN BE CENTER FIELD
Senior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane was the only Aggie in the 2022 campaign to have started in all 56 games. She was also the only USU player to start at the same position in every game played. Macfarlane led off for Utah State in all but one game in 2022.
 
AGGIE AWARDS
Graduate enior catcher Gabriella Jimenez earned MW Player of the Week honors twice in 2022, taking home the award on April 19 and May 17. Pitcher Mia Reynolds also earned a conference weekly accolade as she was named the MW Freshman of the Week (April 19). Jimenez also earned America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week honors twice on the year (March 28, May 16), and Jimenez was named to the MW All-Conference First Team.
 
STEALING HOME
Junior center fielder Mazie Macfarlane stole home in the top of the fourth inning in Utah State's 8-2 victory at Dixie State last season on Feb. 19, becoming the first Aggie to steal home since Megan McDonald vs. Utah Valley on April 20, 2010. 
 
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Several Aggies ended 2022 campaign in the top 10 of several Utah State single-season and career record lists: 
 
SINGLE-SEASON RECORD LIST
Runs
1.            Mazie Macfarlane           46           2022
2.            Rhealee Thorn                   45           1996
3.            Riley Plogger                      38           2019
                Jazmin Clarke                     38           2017
5.            Sarah Chow                        36           2016
                Jolene Koons                      36           2015
7.            Gabriella Jimenez            35           2022
                Two others tied with 35
 
RBIs
1.            Gabriella Jimenez            49           2022
2.            Hailey Froton                     48           2015
3.            Lexi Orozco                         46           2022
4.            Three others tied with    44
 
Home Runs
1.            Gabriella Jimenez            15           2022
2.            Lexi Orozco                         13           2019
3.            Four tied with                    12
 
Total Bases
1.            Sandra Millard Taylor     111         2000
2.            Gabriella Jimenez            109         2022
                Tammy Alcantar                109         1996
                Rhealee Thorn                   109         1996
 
Walks
1.            Jennifer Power                  41           1994
2.            Mazie Macfarlane           36           2022
                Lexi Orozco                         36           2022
4.            Two others tied with       27
 
Stolen Bases
4.            Jazmin Clarke                     25           2016
5.            Leah Molina                        23           2018
                Mia Maher                          23           2017 
7.            Mazie Macfarlane           22           2022
8.            Two others tied with       21
               
Graduate senior Gabriella Jimenez begins the 2023 campaign near the top of the all-time leaderboards in several categories at Utah State: 
 
CAREER RECORD LIST
Home Runs
1.            Lexi Orozco                         39
                Kelley Kaneshiro               39
3.            Victoria Saucedo               33
4.            Gabriella Jimenez            29
5.            Sanra Millard Taylor        24 
 
RBIs
4.            Sandra Millard Taylor     112
5.            Kelley Kaneshiro               110
6.            Kathy Beasley                    98
7.            Gabriella Jimenez            97
8.            Tammy Alcanter               94
 
Slugging Percentage
3.            Alleyah Armendariz         .599
4.            Christine Thomsen           .585
5.            Victoria Saucedo               .576
6.            Gabriella Jimenez            .550
7.            Sandra Millard Taylor     .530
 
DOUBLE VISION
You're not seeing double as there is a set of identical twins on the Utah State roster. Wearing number 41, Makenzie Macfarlane is a catcher and first baseman. Mazie Macfarlane, an outfielder, wears number 15. The duo are mirror image twins, with opposite features. For example, Makenzie is right-handed, while Mazie is left-handed. 
 
THE DISRESPECT IS REAL
Utah State was picked to finish last in the Mountain West preseason poll, receiving a total of 21 votes. However, the Aggies were only four votes removed from fifth-place in the poll as the trio of Fresno State, Nevada and San José State all received 25 votes each. Boise State was tabbed the preseason favorite with 61 votes, including five first-place votes, narrowly edging out last season's champion, San Diego State, with 60 total and four first-place votes.
 
THIS IS OUR TURF
LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field received an upgrade prior to the 2022 season as FieldTurf (Fast Grass) was installed in the outfield, warning track and halo, replacing the grass used in previous seasons. A new drainage system was also installed under the turf to help move snow or rain more quickly. New padding from Field Wall Pads/Sports Graphics was installed in the outfield. The infield is all clay. 
 
CALIFORNIA GIRLS
Fourteen of the 21 Aggies on the 2022 roster have come to Utah State from California in graduate senior Gabriella Jimenez (Sacramento), seniors Makenzie and Mazie Macfarlane (Rocklin), juniors Jessica Stewart (Salinas), sophomores Taryn Edds (Anaheim), Giselle Gonzalez (San Diego), Ariel Fifita (San Marcos), Claudia Medina (West Sacramento), Claire Raley (Clovis) and Mia Reynolds (Tulare), and freshmen Jaden Colunga (Colton), Sydney Saldaña (Seal Beach), Grace Matej (Orangevale) and Kya Pratt (Temecula).
 
HOME GROWN
Utah State has three players from the state of Utah in seniors Nya Laing (Logan) and Tyler Thornton (Millville), and redshirt freshman Emily Dority (South Jordan). 
 
YOUNGLINGS
Out of 21 players on Utah State's roster, 14 are underclassmen as the Aggies boast seven freshmen (Tess Bumiller, Jaden Colunga, Emily Dority, Grace Matej, Hailey McLean, Kya Pratt and Sydney Saldaña) and seven sophomores (Taryn Edds, Giselle Gonzalez, Ariel Fifita, Claudia Medina, Claire Raley, Mia Reynolds and Hannah Vargas) entering 2023.
 
POWER SHIFT
In welcoming redshirt sophomore Hannah Vargas to the team in 2023, the Aggies welcome the team's first transfer from a Power 5 program since former Aggie Amee Aarhus joined USU in 2018 as a transfer from Oregon State. Vargas comes to Logan after spending her first two years at Missouri.
 
 - USU -