LOGAN, Utah – Junior catcher/infielder Kaylee Erickson hit a grand slam as part of a five-run third inning to lead Utah State softball (16-12, 1-2 MW) to a 7-5 win at Idaho State on Wednesday afternoon.
 
USU started quickly as the team's first three at-bats featured a walk drawn by senior infielder Ariel Fifita followed by a pair of singles from seniors Olivia Marble and Giselle Gonzalez that brought Fifita around for the game's opening run. Marble later scored on a groundout to give Utah State an early 2-0 run. Idaho State answered back with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take their first lead of the game.
 
Gonzalez drew a walk before junior infielder Alex Bunton sent a double to right field in the third inning, kickstarting a five-run showing for the Aggies. Junior outfielder Kya Pratt singled after Bunton, scoring freshman outfielder Rylee Turlington on the play as a pinch-runner. The inning continued as the Aggies loaded the bases for Erickson who promptly unloaded them with a deep shot over the fence in right-center field, scoring freshman catcher Jaelyn Castillo, junior outfielder Kya Pratt and freshman infielder Justine Davidson on the play.
 
The seven runs proved enough for the Aggies as junior Emmalyn Brinka earned the win after going 5.0 innings and holding the Bengals to four runs on eight hits while tying her career high with five strikeouts. Junior Rylie Pindel came on for the final 2.0 innings, holding ISU to one run on one hit to preserve the win. Utah State held the Bengals to a .321 batting average and held ISU to only one extra base hit.
 
Erickson led the Aggies from the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Marble also recorded a 3-for-4 day and one run scored, while Gonzalez also recorded a multi-hit performance with two hits and one RBI.
 
As a team, the Aggies recorded 11 hits on 31 at-bats (.355), including three extra-base hits. Utah State also recorded zero fielding errors, its eighth time doing so this season.
 
Up Next
Utah State (12-8, 0-1 MW) returns to LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field to host Saint Mary's on Sunday, March 23, at 11 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.
 
- USU -