OREM, Utah – Utah State softball (22-22, 5-11 MW) used a strong showing at the plate and a complete game in the circle to earn a 10-5 win over Utah Valley Tuesday evening in Orem.
 
Sophomore pitcher Tess Bumiller led the charge for the Aggies with a stellar complete-game performance, throwing nearly 150 pitches. Bumiller held Utah Valley to just two earned runs across seven innings, facing 34 batters and clinching the win with three strikeouts.
 
The Aggies wasted no time asserting their dominance, swiftly taking control with a three-run surge in the opening inning. The momentum was ignited by junior infielder Ariel Fifita, who capitalized on a walk in the first at-bat of the night to traverse the bases, ultimately crossing home plate courtesy of a center-field single by sophomore catcher Grace Matej. Junior infielder Giselle Gonzalez extended the lead with a double later in the inning, bringing home two more runs and establishing a 3-0 advantage. However, the Wolverines retaliated in the bottom half of the inning, leveling the score with three runs of their own.
 
Utah State surged ahead once again in the second inning, propelled by Matej's triple that drove Fifita home from first base. The Aggies then seized control with an explosive four-run onslaught in the third inning. Sophomore outfielder Jaden Colunga started the rally with a double to right field, bringing in freshman infielder Emerson Meggers from first base. The scoring frenzy continued as Utah State notched runs in three consecutive at-bats, first capitalizing on a throwing error to bring junior outfielder Hannah Vargas home, then with an RBI groundout by sophomore outfielder Kya Pratt, followed by a bunt by Fifita that propelled junior infielder Claudia Medina across home plate.
 
Despite a two-run homer by Utah Valley in the bottom of the third, the Aggies maintained their lead, with Colunga delivering her third hit of the game in the top of the fourth—a home run to left field. Following a scoreless fifth and sixth inning from both sides, Fifita's triple in the top of the seventh inning provided additional insurance, sealing the 10-5 victory for Utah State.
 
Colunga finished with a stellar 3-for-4 performance, including a single, a double and a home run. Joining her with multiple hits were Fifita (2-for-2 with a triple), Matej (2-for-5 with a triple), and Gonzalez (2-for-4 with a double). Collectively, the Aggies amassed 11 hits, outpacing Utah Valley's nine.
 
Up Next
Utah State (22-22, 5-11 MW) now hits the road for its final road series of the season, a three-game series at New Mexico beginning on Friday, April 19. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m., in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 
 
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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