ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (11-3, 0-0 MW) won a pair of high-scoring thrillers on Saturday at the Karl Brooks Classic in St. George, defeating San Diego 13-10, then earning a 21-15 win over host Utah Tech at Karl Brooks Field. 
 
Utah State 13, San Diego 10
In the morning slate, the bats were hot for both sides in a game which featured 23 runs and 32 total hits. Utah State wasted no time getting going, recording four hits and three runs before registering its first out. A single by senior infielder Ariel Fifita was followed by a fielding error which put sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva on first. Junior catcher Grace Matej then stepped up to give the Aggies the early lead with her second home run of the season, a shot over the right field fence. 
 
After clearing the bases with a home run, all three plates were occupied again shortly after, as senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez hit a single, followed by another single for redshirt junior catcher Kaylee Erickson and a walk for junior outfielder Kya Pratt. Junior infielder Alex Bunton and senior infielder Claudia Medina then hit back-to-back singles to make it a 5-0 game, followed by a two-RBI double for Silva. Concluding the scoring in the inning for USU was Matej, who hit a 2 RBI single for her second hit and fifth RBI of the inning. 
 
Each side scored a run in the second inning, Utah State's coming on a home run to left field by senior outfielder Olivia Marble. Despite the 10-1 USU lead, the Toreros clawed their way back into the contest, recording two runs in the third inning and a big five-run fourth inning to pull within two runs. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, a home run by Bunton, her third in two days, made it an 11-8 ball game. Neither side scored in the fourth, then both teams recorded two runs in the fifth, Utah State's coming courtesy of a two-RBI double by Fifita. With a 13-10 advantage and needing three outs, the Aggies sealed the deal in the seventh as they held San Diego off the board to secure the win. 
 
In total, USU out-hit San Diego 17-15. The team's 17 hits were a season high, led by a 4-for-4 performance at the plate with five RBIs by Matej. Bunton finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a walk, while Fifita went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. 
 
In the circle the Aggies utilized five different pitchers. Junior Emmalyn Brinka started and threw 2.2 innings, before sophomore Maren Berger and junior Denay Smith finished out the third inning. Junior Rylie Pindel took the next 2.2 innings, throwing four strikeouts, before junior Carly Limosnero took the final 1.1 innings. Pindel was awarded the win, while Limosnero earned a save. 
 
Utah State 21, Utah Tech 15
In the evening, Utah State had its highest-scoring output in a game in 45 years in a 21-15 win over Utah Tech. This was the third-highest scoring game in program history, behind only a 24-1 win over USU Eastern in 1980 and a 27-0 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in 1978. 
 
The Aggies had to dig out of a deficit early in this one, after going down 7-2 through a couple of innings. In the first inning, USU put a pair of runs on the board courtesy of a two-RBI home run from Gonzalez which brought Matej home as well. But USU allowed five runs in the bottom of the inning, followed by two more in the second. 
 
Trailing by five runs, the Aggies responded strongly with four of their own in the third inning. First, it was a throwing error which brought Medina in from third, then, a three-RBI homer over the left center field fence from Gonzalez to pull back within a run. 
 
In the fourth inning, Utah State took control. The Aggies put seven runs on the board to jump ahead 13-7. With the bases loaded and no outs, freshman outfielder Faith Kroening scored for USU on a wild pitch. A double down the left field line by Fifita followed to score one more, then a fielders choice brought Medina in. Not long after, another wild pitch played to USU's advantage, this time it was Fifita scoring from third. A single by sophomore infielder Emerson Meggers then scored Silva, before a 2 RBI double from Pratt concluded the seven-run inning. 
 
The Trailblazers responded with a five run showing in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth inning, Medina scored on yet another wild pitch to take a 15-12 lead, before a single by Marble tacked on another as Gonzalez crossed the plate. Utah Tech once again responded, this time with three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull back within one, but that's all the hosts would score. 
 
USU solidified the win with four more runs in the sixth, and one in the seventh. In the sixth, it was an RBI single by Silva, followed by a three-run moonshot for Gonzalez. In the seventh, it was a solo home run to center field by Pratt. 
 
The Aggies tallied 16 hits in the contest, led by a 3-for-4 performance by Gonzalez, who scored four runs with eight RBIs and a walk. Fifita also registered three hits, going 3-for-6 with four runs and an RBI, while Pratt went 3-for-5 with a run and three RBIs. 
 
Utah State once again went deep into the bullpen, utilizing four pitchers. Limosnero started and took the first 2.0 innings, before junior Sydney Saldaña entered to pitch the third. Pindel entered in the fourth and went 1.2 innings, then Smith took the Aggies the final 2.1. Pindel earned the win, her second of the day, while Smith picked up a save. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (11-3, 0-0 MW) will wrap up its five-game stint at the Lyman Classic tomorrow with a game against Idaho State. First pitch is slated for 12 PM.   
 
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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