ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (5-5, 0-0 MW) began a five-game stint in the Utah Tech Classic with a loss Friday afternoon in St. George, falling to Weber State 5-4.
 
After allowing two Wildcat runs in the bottom of the second, all of Utah State's four runs came during the third inning. The first home run of the season for junior infielder Ariel Fifita scored the first two Aggie runs as she brought junior infielder Brooklyn Pritchett home. Senior infielder Ali Ashner then reached base with a walk and advanced all the way to third before she scored on a double by sophomore infielder Alex Bunton. Bunton then scored from third on a passed ball to make the score 4-2. 
 
Utah State's lead didn't last long, however, as a two-hit, three-run bottom of the third put Weber State back in front. Neither team scored the rest of the way as there were just three combined hits in the final four innings. 
 
Fifita once again led the Aggies at the plate with two hits in four at-bats, while she recorded one run and two RBIs. Bunton and junior infielder Giselle Gonzalez were the other USU players who recorded hits. 
 
Four Utah State pitchers saw time in the circle as sophomore Tess Bumiller started and pitched 1.2 innings. Senior Jessica Stewart saw a short 0.1 inning stint on the mound before being replaced by redshirt sophomore Denay Smith, who pitched 0.2 innings. Graduate Katie Zuniga took the majority of the workload, pitching the final 3.1 innings and earning four strikeouts while not allowing a run. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (5-5, 0-0 MW) remains in St. George for a pair of games tomorrow, first facing Weber State at 12:30 p.m., then taking on Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. 
 
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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