LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball came out victorious in a 4-3 comeback win against UNLV on Friday.
 
"We've talked about how many wins we need to make the tournament, but we have to take it one game at a time," head coach Steve Johnson said. "We were struggling with a few of the things we've been struggling with, the free passes, but we were limiting the damage which was good. They kept battling and kept battling. Tess (Bumiller) did a fantastic job, and that's what we've talked about. The defense behind her made the routine plays routine, and even some of the extraordinary plays they made look routine. Then, finally, we came up with a few of the clutch hits there. It was a complete game, and now we're just looking forward to game 2."
 
The Rebels led 3-0 midway through the fourth inning after scoring a run in the top of the third and two more in the top of the fourth.
 
Sophomore third baseman Claire Raley started the comeback efforts for the Aggies in the bottom of the fourth, logging a lead-off single before advancing to second and third on a ground out and stolen base, respectively. She made it the last 60 feet to give USU its first run of the day on a wild pitch.
 
Sophomore second baseman Giselle Gonzalez, who defensively snagged a pair of stellar line drives later in the game, trimmed the margin to one in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off home run. USU tied the game at 3-all to force extra innings in the bottom of the second after an RBI double from freshman designated player Grace Matej.
 
The Aggies held the Rebels scoreless in the top of both the eighth and ninth innings. Utah State entered the bottom of the ninth at the top of the order as freshman right fielder Kya Pratt had a leadoff double, Raley singled and Matej was intentionally walked. Following a strikeout, graduate first baseman Gabriella Jimenez gave Utah State the walk-off win with a single to left field to plate Pratt.
 
Two Aggie freshmen saw time in the circle on Friday in Hailey McLean and Tess Bumiller. Bumiller entered the game in the top of the fourth, immediately collecting the two outs needed to end the frame. She gave up no runs and just two hits, while logging four strikeouts, in 5.2 innings of work to earn her fifth win of the season.
 
"It was great," Bumiller said. "We really needed it. The team was great. They were all behind me. We needed that last hit. GG did awesome. That was really good for her. I really enjoyed playing today.
 
"The goal is to just come in and get the outs. That's really my individual goal of the day and for every day. I know that I can get the outs, and I know that everybody else behind me can get the outs. The hitters can, obviously, pick me up afterward."
 
Up Next
Utah State (16-23, 7-10 MW) and UNLV (20-26, 6-12 MW) meet for game 2 in Logan on Saturday, April 29, 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.
 
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