4
Winner
Utah State
US
15-9
2
Long Beach State
LBSU
4-21
2
Long Beach State
LBSU
4-21
Score By Periods
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Utah State
US
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
|
Long Beach State
LBSU
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
W: Smith, Denay (5-2)
L: Fernandez, Sophia (3-8)
S: Stewart, Jessica (3)
LONG BEACH, California – Utah State softball (15-9, 0-0 MW) extended its winning streak to seven as it took a 4-2 eight-inning thriller over Long Beach State Sunday afternoon to conclude a 5-0 stint at the Louisville Slugger Invitational.
In a game which began as a defensive battle, neither team was able to produce a run for the first six innings. The Aggie pitching staff was able to strand eight LBSU runners in the first six innings to keep the Beach off the board.
In the top of the seventh, Utah State finally broke the scoreless drought as junior infielder
Giselle Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring freshman outfielder
Tatum Silva across the plate and make it 1-0. The hosts responded in the bottom of the inning, though, scoring on a two-out double to extend the game into extras.
In the eighth, the Aggie bats came to life with three runs scored to take a 4-1 lead. With two outs, senior outfielder
Ali Ashner, who was placed on second to begin the eighth, came home when junior infielder
Ariel Fifita singled to right field. Silva followed with a single to score junior outfielder
Hannah Vargas, who came in as a pinch runner for freshman catcher
Zereniti Sousa. The Aggie scoring concluded when Fifita scored on a passed ball by the LBSU catcher.
Despite the three-run lead, the Aggies didn't escape without drama as Long Beach State loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. LBSU scored on a fielder's choice, but back-to-back strikeouts from senior
Jessica Stewart secured the win.
Four pitchers were utilized by Utah State, with redshirt sophomore
Denay Smith earning the win. Graduate
Katie Zuniga pitched the first 2.1 innings, then sophomore
Tess Bumiller took the Aggies to the fourth. Smith came in to pitch 3.0 innings, before Stewart closed it out to earn the save.
Up Next
Utah State (15-9, 0-0 MW) now travels to Cedar City, Utah, for a single contest against Southern Utah on Wednesday, March 13, at 1 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.
- USU -
