LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball (22-28, 5-17 MW) wrapped up its 2024 campaign Saturday afternoon at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field, falling to San José State 7-4.
 
Prior to first pitch, the Aggies held a senior day ceremony to honor their graduating class on the field. This year's Utah State senior class includes four players — Pitchers Jessica Stewart and Katie Zuniga and outfielders Ali Ashner and Hannah Vargas. 
 
The Aggies got off to a strong start with a pair of solo home runs in the first inning to hop out to a 2-0 lead, first a shot to left center by junior infielder Ariel Fifita on what was just the second pitch of the afternoon, then again on a hit over the center field fence by senior outfielder Ali Ashner. The lead held for USU until the bottom of the second, when a bases-loaded hit by pitch put the Spartans on the board, followed by a grand slam to make it 5-2. 
 
The Spartans tacked on to the lead in the third with a solo home run, but in the bottom of the inning, USU sophomore infielder Alex Bunton singled to bring Ashner across the plate for her second run of the day. In the sixth, a throwing error allowed a seventh and final SJSU run across. Utah State tried to claw back, but the team's fourth and final run came when junior infielder Claudia Medina scored on a groundout from Fifita in the sixth.
 
Utah State out-hit San José State 9-8 with seven different Aggies recording hits, including two-apiece from Fifita and Gonzalez. 
 
In the circle, Stewart made the start for the final game of her collegiate career. She pitched two innings before being replaced by sophomore Sydney Saldaña, who had a strong effort pitching the final five innings with no earned runs allowed. 
 
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 -