10
Winner
Fresno State
FS
17-23, 6-6 MW
9
Utah State
USU
13-19, 5-7 MW
Winner
Fresno State
FS
17-23, 6-6 MW
10
9
Utah State
USU
13-19, 5-7 MW
Score By Periods
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Fresno State
FS
|
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
15 |
2 |
|
Utah State
USU
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
15 |
1 |
W: NEISS, Serayah (3-11)
L: Saldaña, Sydney (0-1)
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State softball (13-19, 5-7 Mountain West) looked to make a late comeback, but fell short in its 10-9 loss to Fresno State (17-23, 6-6 MW) on Saturday.
The Bulldogs took an early 5-0 lead after scoring a run in the top of the second and four runs in the top of the fourth.
USU chipped away at the lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth. After the first two Aggie batters grounded out, back-to-back hits followed by a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Freshman right fielder
Kya Pratt then drew a walk to score sophomore second baseman
Giselle Gonzalez.
Sophomore third baseman
Claire Raley doubled down the right field line at the next at-bat to score both sophomore shortstop
Ariel Fifita and senior center fielder
Tyler Thornton to trim the margin to 5-3.
Fresno State extended its lead back to five after logging three-straight homer in the top of the fifth for the 8-3 advantage. Graduate first baseman
Gabriella Jimenez joined the fifth-inning home run party with a two-run bomb in the bottom of the frame to cut the edge to 8-5.
Neither team scored in the sixth inning, but a Bulldog RBI single in the top of the seventh gave Fresno State a 9-5 advantage.
Utah State continued to fight back in the bottom of the frame as Jimenez drew a lead-off walk, Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and Fifita singled. Thornton then singled to left field to score Jimenez and redshirt sophomore pinch runner
Hannah Vargas scored on a ground out to trim the lead to 9-7.
With two outs and two Aggies in scoring position, freshman designated player
Grace Matej doubled to left center to bring home Fifita and Thornton and tie the game at 9-all to force extra innings.
Both teams got on base in the eighth, but neither team scored in the frame. An RBI double gave Fresno State a 10-9 edge in the top of the ninth and the Bulldogs held on for the win.
Three Aggies saw time in the circle on Saturday as freshman
Hailey McLean made the start, striking out two batters in 2.2 innings of work. She was relieved by sophomore
Mia Reynolds, who had one strikeout in 2.0 innings pitched. Freshman Sydney Saldaña was in the circle for a career-long 4.1 innings, striking out two Bulldogs.
Up Next
Utah State and Fresno State conclude the two-game series on Sunday, April 16, at noon.
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 -
