Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PHOENIX, Ariz. – Utah State softball (12-7, 0-0 MW) split a pair of games at the ASU/GCU Invitational on Saturday, defeating UTEP, 11-6, before falling to tournament-host Arizona State, 4-1.
 
Utah State 11, UTEP 6
The Aggies' days started early as Utah State scored three in the bottom of the first to take an early lead against the Miners. Senior infielder Ariel Fifita scored the first run, reaching home on a throwing error. Senior outfielder Olivia Marble then doubled to left center, bringin home senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez and junior catcher/infielder Kaylee Erickson to make it 3-0. 
 
After UTEP drew one back with a solo home run in the second inning, the Aggies extended their lead to five runs as Erickson hit a three-run double to left center in the fourth inning, scoring junior infielder Grace Matej, Fifita and sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva. In the next inning, Fifita joined the double party with a shot to left center of her own, plating Silva and junior infielder Kenzee Hale to make it 8-1 for USU.
 
The Miners closed the gap with a five-run sixth inning, including a pair of home runs, to make it 8-6. In the bottom half, however, Gonzalez responded with a solo shot of her own, her eighth of the year, to push USU's lead to 9-6. Fifita further gave the Aggies a few insurance runs with a single that scored Marble and junior infielder Alex Bunton to make it 11-6.
 
Utah State recorded 12 hits in the first game of the day and drew four walks, converting them into 11 runs. Fifita led the way with two hits in four at-bats, scoring two runs and recording four RBIs. Erickson added three RBIs while going 1-for-3 from the plate. Gonzalez went a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI and scored once. Silva went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, while Marble also went 2-for-3, scoring once and adding two RBIs.
 
The runs were more than enough for the pitching trio of juniors Emmalyn Brinka, Denay Smith and Rylie Pindel. Brinka came away with the victory to improve to 3-0 on the season, throwing 5.0 innings on the day while surrendering only six hits and four earned runs. Pindel recorded the save, her second on the year, while pitching 2.0 innings and giving up only one hit and two walks while facing seven total batters.
 
Utah State 1, Arizona State 4
After neither team scored in the first inning, the Sun Devils opened the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the second. ASU further built their lead with a two-run home run in the third inning. The Aggies began their comeback attempt in the fifth inning when sophomore infielder Emerson Meggers came on in pinch-hit duty and hit a double to left field, bringing home freshman outfielder Faith Kroening to put USU on the board. 
 
USU had several opportunities in the late inning to further eat into Arizona State's lead, twice loading the bases in the fifth and seventh innings but stranding the bases loaded both times as the Sun Devils closed out the 4-1 win.
 
Junior pitcher Carly Limosnero tossed 6.0 innings in the effort, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while recording two strikeouts.
 
Offensively, Utah State recorded four hits to Arizona State's seven, and left nine runners on base to ASU's six.


Up Next
Utah State (12-7, 0-0 MW) concludes its stay at the ASU/GCU Invitational in Tempe, Arizona, by facing Seattle on Sunday, March 2, at 9 a.m.
 
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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