ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (11-4, 0-0 MW) fell in its final of five games at the Karl Brooks Classic in St. George, losing to Idaho State 11-7 at the Canyons Softball Complex. The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for USU. 
 
The Aggies struck first in this one, taking a first-inning lead behind a double from redshirt junior catcher Kaylee Erickson, who brought junior catcher Grace Matej in from second. USU then tacked on another in the second, when senior infielder Claudia Medina singled to score senior outfielder Olivia Marble. 
 
The USU defense held strong early, as junior pitcher Denay Smith retired the first seven Bengal batters in order. The first Idaho State hit of the day came as a solo home run in the third to make it a 2-1 game. 
 
In the fourth inning, Utah State extended its lead courtesy of an RBI double for Medina, then a two-run homer for senior infielder Ariel Fifita, her fifth of the year. In the bottom of the inning, the Bengals responded with a lead-off home run, but a four-hit inning resulted in just one run as Smith escaped a bases-loaded jam. 
 
Utah State tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning when Medina cleared the left field fence with her first home run, registering her third hit and third and fourth RBIs of the day. The Bengals then scored four runs in the fifth inning to cut the USU lead to 7-6. They tied the game in the sixth on a two-out bases-loaded walk, which was followed by a grand slam. In need of four runs to extend the game, the Aggies went down in order in the seventh. 
 
USU out-hit Idaho State 13-12, led by a 3-for-3 day with two runs and four RBIs for Medina. Fifita went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, while Erickson and junior infielder Alex Bunton each went 2-for-4 in the contest. 
 
In the circle, Smith pitched the first 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs. Junior Carly Limosnero entered in the fourth and pitched 1.0 innings with three hits and five earned runs allowed, before junior Rylie Pindel earned the final out of the game. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (11-4, 0-0 MW) will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, next weekend, for a five-game slate at the ASU Invitational. There, the Aggies will face Oregon State, Grand Canyon, UTEP, Arizona State and Seattle. Game will be played from Feb. 28-March 2 at Arizona State's Alberta B. Farrington Stadium.  
 
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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