LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball (12-8, 0-1 MW) lost its first game of the Mountain West season, falling to San Diego State, 13-8, on Friday afternoon at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field. In the second game of a doubleheader, the Aggies trail the Aztecs, 7-4, entering the sixth inning. The game will be completed on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. prior to game three of the series.
 
Facing the MW regular season and tournament champions from last season, Utah State answered SDSU's opening run in the top of the first inning when senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez deposited a home run over center field, also bringing home senior infielder Ariel Fifita on the play to put USU up 2-1. The Aztecs, however, scored multiple runs in each of the next three innings to take a 9-2 lead midway through the fourth inning.
 
At risk of getting run-ruled, the Aggies stormed back as Fifita singled to score freshman catcher Jaelyn Castillo in the bottom of the fourth before USU then plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within 9-8. Junior outfielder Kya Pratt began the five-run inning with an up-the-middle single to bring junior catcher/infielder Grace Matej around to score. Junior catcher/infielder Kaylee Erickson followed up the single with another to score freshman Rylee Turlington. Fifita capped the rally and continued her hot streak with a double to deep center field, scoring Erickson along with senior outfielder Brooklyn Pritchett and freshman outfielder Faith Kroening.
 
After clawing back into the contest, the Aztecs once again separated themselves with four runs in the sixth inning to go up 13-8. Utah State loaded the bases in an attempt to rally in the seventh inning but was unable to eat into SDSU's advantage.
 
The Aggies recorded 15 hits on 35 at-bats, led by a 4-for-4 outing from Fifita with four RBIs plus one run scored and a walk. Matej added a 3-for-5 showing while Pritchett finished 3-for-4 from the plate. Erickson recorded the final multi-hit game for USU, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
In the circle, the quartet of junior pitchers Rylie Pindel, Carly Limosnero, Sydney Saldaña and Emmalyn Brinka combined to finish out the game. Brinka led the way with 1.2 innings to close out the contest, allowing only one hit and zero earned runs.
 
In game two of the series, senior outfielder Olivia Marble again answered early runs from the Aztecs, hitting a double off the wall in the left field to score Matej and Gonzalez to tie the game at 2. After SDSU scored two in both the third and fourth inning to again create a sizable lead for the visitors, Fifita again came through with a two-run home run to left field, scoring Pritchett on the play to bring the Aggies back within two. The Aztecs notched another run on an RBI single in the fifth innings before the game was suspended due to low light.
 
Up Next
Utah State (12-8, 0-1 MW) concludes game two against the Aztecs on Sunday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m. The Aggies trail the Aztecs, 7-4, entering the sixth inning. Game three of the series will occur 30 minutes following the conclusion of game two.
 
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.
 
- USU -