SACRAMENTO, California – Utah State softball (8-9, 0-0 MW) dropped a pair of games at the Capital Classic Saturday afternoon, falling to Sacramento State twice in a doubleheader. In the first game of the day, the Aggies lost a 9-1 six-inning affair, then fell 2-1 to the Hornets in the second contest.
In the first game of the day, the Aggies faced a deficit early on as Sacramento State used a 3-run home run in the first inning to gain separation. After a pair of scoreless innings in the second and third, the Hornets added on a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth.
Utah State's lone run of the game came in the fifth, a single by senior outfielder
Ali Ashner to bring freshman infielder
Emerson Meggers home from second. Ashner was the only Aggie in the contest to record multiple hits, as she went 2-for-3 at the plate. Sacramento State answered, however, scoring one run in the fifth then four more in the sixth to cut the game short with a six-inning run rule win.
Graduate
Katie Zuniga started the contest, and was one of four Aggie pitchers to see time on the mound. She pitched one inning before being replaced by senior
Jessica Stewart. Stewart pitched 3.1 innings, then sophomore
Tess Bumiller entered in the fourth and pitched one inning. Sophomore Sydney Saldaña closed the game out.
The second game of the afternoon began as a defensive battle, neither side getting on the board in the first four innings. Redshirt sophomore
Denay Smith was methodical on the mound for the Aggies, keeping Sacramento State off the board until a fifth-inning double made it 1-0.
Utah State answered quickly, as sophomore catcher
Grace Matej sent a single through the left side to bring home junior outfielder
Hannah Vargas from second. Vargas originally entered the contest as a pinch runner, filling in for sophomore infielder
Alex Bunton. While the Aggies were able to even things up, they left the bases loaded in the sixth, then a one-run home run by Sacramento State put the hosts right back on top in the bottom of the inning.
Needing a run to extend the game, the Aggies kept hope alive as junior infielder
Ariel Fifita and freshman outfielder
Tatum Silva each made their way into scoring position, but back-to-back strikeouts ended USU's chances.
Smith pitched all six innings for Utah State, totaling five strikeouts and allowing seven hits while facing 24 batters and throwing 86 pitches.
Up Next
Utah State (8-9, 0-0 MW) now closes out its stay in Sacramento with the conclusion of the Capital Classic tomorrow afternoon when the Aggies play UC Santa Barbara at 10:30 a.m. (MT).
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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