LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Utah State softball (19-15, 3-7 MW) dropped both games of a doubleheader against UNLV Friday afternoon, falling 14-13 in a nine-inning game, then 12-3 in a five-inning contest. 
 
The Aggie bats wasted no time getting going in the first game of the afternoon, totaling nine runs on six hits in the first inning to gain instant separation. Sophomore catcher Grace Matej started the scoring off for the Aggies with a double to bring junior infielder Ariel Fifita in from first. The Aggies then loaded the bases, when sophomore outfielder Kya Pratt drew a walk to bring in a third run. After an RBI single by sophomore pitcher Hailey McLean, Matej stepped back up to the plate to deliver the first grand slam of the season for Utah State, a shot over the right center fence to make it 9-0. 
 
The Rebels loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but a double play helped USU escape the jam while allowing just a single run. In the second, Utah State scored a single run, coming on a leadoff home run from junior infielder Giselle Gonzalez, before the Rebels put three runs on the board in the bottom of the second. 
 
After three scoreless innings from each side, UNLV exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull ahead 12-10. Senior outfielder Ali Ashner made her way home from second on a throwing error to pull within a run, then, with the Aggies down to their final out, Matej stepped up to deliver her fourth hit and seventh RBI of the contest. A single through the right side scored junior infielder Claudia Medina and Pratt as USU pulled back in front at 13-12. The Rebels then pulled even in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. UNLV secured the win with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth. 
 
Five different Aggie pitchers saw time in the circle, including sophomore Denay Smith, who started the game and re-entered in extra innings. 
 
In the second contest, Utah State got on the board first when Gonzalez hit a double to right center, bringing Matej and Fifita in for an early 2-0 lead. The Rebels jumped back on top though with a pair of runs in the first and another in the second. 
 
In the third inning, USU loaded the bases before a base on balls by Ashner brought in a run to even things at 3-3. The rest of the scoring belonged to UNLV, however, as the hosts scored three runs in the bottom of the third and six runs in the fourth to finish off the run-rule victory. 
 
Four Aggies pitched in this one, with sophomore Hailey McLean starting and pitching a team-best 2.0 innings. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (19-15, 3-6 MW) now travels to Salt Lake City for a game against Utah on Monday, April 1. First pitch is set for 5 p.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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