ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (9-3, 0-0 MW) opened a five-game stint at the Utah Tech-hosted Lyman Classic Tournament with a pair of wins Friday at Karl Brooks Field and the Canyon Softball Complex in St. George, defeating UC San Diego 10-2 in a five-inning contest in the morning, then taking down Weber State in an 11-10 thriller in the afternoon. 
 
Utah State 10, UC San Diego 2 (5 innings)
In the morning slate, the Aggies took a little while to get going, but then flipped a 2-0 deficit into run rule victory in just a single inning, scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth. This was the highest-scoring inning by a Utah State team since scoring 11 runs in the second inning against Weber State in 2010.
 
Each of the Tritons' runs in the game were unearned, coming as the result of USU errors. First it was a double in the first inning to score a runner who reached first on a fielding error, then a triple in the third inning to bring home a runner from first who also reached on a fielding error. 
 
After three scoreless innings by the Aggies and a pitching change for UC San Diego, the USU bats came alive. Utah State scored seven runs before recording an out in the inning, totaling six hits. Senior outfielder Olivia Marble first reached on a four-pitch walk, followed by a single by junior outfielder Kya Pratt. Another walk, this time by junior infielder Alex Bunton, loaded the bases, before a single by senior infielder Claudia Medina gave Utah State its first run of the day. 
 
With the bases loaded, the Aggies then drew three-straight walks to take a 4-2 lead, from senior infielder Ariel Fifita, sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva and junior catcher Grace Matej. Despite another pitching change, USU continued to add to the damage. A single to right center field by senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez brought home two more runs, followed by an RBI single for redshirt junior infielder Kaylee Erickson. 
 
Following another walk for Marble, USU recorded back-to-back strikeouts for its first two outs of the inning. Medina then delivered a three RBI double through the right side before a throw out at home ended the inning. 
 
In total, seven Aggies recorded hits, with Medina going 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs. 
 
Juniors Rylie Pindel and Emmalyn Brinka split time in the circle for USU. Pindel started and threw the first 2.2 innings while facing 13 batters, before Brinka took over for the final 2.1 innings and 10 batters to earn the win.  
 
Utah State 11, Weber State 10
In the afternoon's matchup, the Aggies once again overcame an early deficit with strong hitting, recording a season-best 16 hits to defeat Weber State. The Wildcats put up four runs to take a 4-0 lead in the first inning, using a pair of well-timed hits and three bases reached on balls to take control in the early going. 
 
Through the next three innings, Utah State clawed its way back into the game before eventually evening things up at 4-4 in the top of the fourth. In the second, it was Bunton singling to right field to bring Marble home for the first run of the day. A solo shot home run over the right field fence by Matej in the third made it a 4-2 ballgame. 
 
The Aggies finally pulled even in the fourth inning when a home run by Pratt brought Marble around the bags to make 4-4. The Wildcats quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with four hits and a pair of runs to retake the lead. 
 
In the fifth inning, a leadoff single by Matej was followed by a blast over the center field wall by Gonzalez to once again pull even with Weber State, this time at 6-6. Later in the inning, Pratt followed what was her first home run of the season in the fourth with her second of the year in the fifth, another two-RBI dinger to make it an 8-6 game. 
 
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Aggies added some much-needed insurance to the board in the seventh, scoring three more runs. Gonzalez led off the inning with her second home run of the game, before Bunton made it 11-6 with a two-run shot later in the inning, her first home run of the season. Despite the lead, the Wildcats didn't go away quietly, using five hits in the bottom of the seventh to score four runs, but coming up just short.
 
The late part of the lineup came up big for USU in this one, as the 6-7-8 hitters (Marble, Pratt, Bunton) each recorded three hits. Marble went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored four of the team's 11 runs, Pratt went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs, and Bunton went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. Matej and Gonzalez each recorded a pair of hits as well, Gonzalez going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a base on balls. 
 
USU utilized three pitchers in the game. Limosnero started and finished the contest, going 0.2 total innings and facing seven batters. Smith entered in the first and went for 3.1 innings, facing 16 batters and allowing four hits with two earned runs, before Pindel entered in the fourth to pitch 3.0 innings with 15 batters faced, seven hits and four earned runs. Pindel earned the save, while Limosnero was awarded the win. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (9-3, 0-0 MW) will continue its five-game slate at the Lyman Classic with a pair of games tomorrow. The Aggies face San Diego at noon, then take on host Utah Tech at 5 p.m. Both games will be streamed on WAC International.  
 
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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