PLAY BALL!
Utah State softball (13-10, 0-0 Mountain West) opens its 2025 home slate and begins Mountain West play this week with four games at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field. The Aggies will first host Utah Valley on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. USU will then play a three-game series against San Diego State with games March 14-16.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats for all of this weekend's games will be available via Statbroadcast and all games will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Links and live updates will be available on the USU softball social media pages and through UtahStateAggies.com.
AGGIES VS WOLVERINES
Wednesday's game will be the 43rd all-time between in-state foes Utah State and Utah Valley, with the Aggies holding a 28-14 series advantage. The Aggies have won four of the past five meetings, including a 10-5 win over UVU last season in Orem. In games played in Logan, Utah State leads 11-5, with Utah Valley's last win Logan coming in 2021.
AGGIES VS AZTECS
Utah State and San Diego State have faced off 42 times previously, the Aztecs leading the series 29-13. USU and SDSU met three times last season in San Diego, San Diego State winning the first two (6-4, 14-0 (5)), Utah State taking the third (1-0). In games played in the series in Logan, SDSU holds a 9-8 edge.
AGGIES IN MW OPENERS
Since joining the Mountain West in 2014, Utah State has gone an even 15-15 in conference opening series. The Aggies went 1-2 in the league opener last season on the road against San Diego State.
ICYMI
Utah State was scheduled to play five games in Phoenix last week at the Purple Classic, but only played two due to inclement weather. The Aggies went 1-1, defeating Penn in an 8-0 five-inning shutout, then falling to San Diego 6-2.
The Aggies also played a single contest separate from the Purple Classic on Monday at No. 7 Arizona. The Wildcats used a late surge with four runs in the sixth inning to secure an 8-0 six-inning victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah State currently ranks in the top-50 nationally in several key statistics, including: on base percentage (29th - .417), doubles (31st - 1.70), slugging percentage (32nd - .535), home runs (33rd - 1.17), RBIs (33rd - 6.00), hits (36th - 207), batting average (37th - .326), runs batted in (37th - 138), hits allowed per seven innings (40th - 10.21) and scoring (43rd - 6.43).
MOUNTAIN BEST
With most of non-conference play in the books, the Mountain West Conference has had one of its most out of league showings in recent history this year. Entering league play this week, seven of the league's nine teams are .500 or better and eight are .450 or better. The squads have combined for a 126-87 (.592) record in non-conference play.
THE BATS ARE HOT
In five games at the Lyman Classic Feb. 21-23, Utah State totaled a whopping 62 runs scored, easily the highest scoring week in program history. USU scored 10-plus runs in four-straight games for the first time ever. The Aggies tallied 71 hits during those games. After totaling eight home runs in the first 10 games of the year, USU hit 15 dingers during the five-game stretch.
NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After an outstanding showing the week ending Feb. 23, USU senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez was named the D1Softball National Player of the Week. During a five-game stretch at the Lyman Classic, Gonzalez went .500 (8-for-16) at the plate with five home runs, six runs scored, 13 RBIs and three walks. She had two home runs against Weber State, then three more against Utah Tech, tying a program record.
Gonzalez was also named the Mountain West Player of the Week, joining Grace Matej (Feb. 9) as the second USU player to earn the honor this season.
RUNNING INTO THE RECORD BOOK
In Utah State's win over Utah Tech on Feb. 22, the Aggies scored 21 runs. This was the third-most runs in a game in program history, and the first time scoring over 20 runs in 45 years. The only games USU has played with more runs were a 24-1 win over USU Eastern in 1980 and a 27-0 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in 1978.
FIFITA'S ON FIRE
Utah State senior infielder Ariel Fifita has been one of the top hitters in the country this season, as well as one of the top shortstops. Fifita currently leads the nation in assists per game with 3.13, while also recording 29 putouts.
Fifita is batting .452 (33-for-73) entering the week, while 15 of her 33 hits have resulted in extra bases. Her .452 batting average ranks 54th nationally. She also ranks 41st nationally in doubles (8) and 47th in hits (33). Her .822 slugging percentage ranks 56th in the nation, and her .583 on base percentage ranks 17th.
RYLIE WIN-DEL
Utah State junior right-hander Rylie Pindel is a perfect 6-0 in the circle entering the week. Her six wins rank third in the Mountain West.
THE MAGIC NUMBER
When scoring six or more runs this season, Utah State is 10-2. When scoring five or fewer runs, the team is 3-8.
UP NEXT
Utah State will now have its league play bye next week, and will play a pair of single contests against non-conference opponents. First, USU will travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to take on Idaho State on Wednesday, March 19, at 2 p.m. Then, the Aggies will host Saint Mary's on Sunday, March 23, at 11 a.m.
