PHOENIX, Ariz. – Utah State softball (13-8, 0-0 MW) earned its second shutout win of the year Saturday afternoon at the Grand Canyon-hosted Purple Classic in Phoenix, defeating Penn 8-0 in five innings. 
 
The Aggies out-hit the Quakers 8-2, with junior right-hander Emmalyn Brinka earning the win in the circle after pitching the full game and allowing just two hits with 18 batters faced. 
 
It took a couple of innings to get going, as the sides each recorded just a single hit in two scoreless innings to open the game, but Utah State caught fire in the third. After sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva reached on a fielding error and senior infielder Ariel Fifita singled, junior catcher Grace Matej delivered a double to left center field to bring them both home and open the scoring. A four-pitch walk for senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez then a single by junior infielder Alex Bunton loaded the bases, which didn't stay occupied for long as redshirt junior catcher Kaylee Erickson sent a shot over the right field fence for her second grand slam of the season to make it 6-0. 
 
In the fourth, USU tacked on two more runs. First, it was senior outfielder Olivia Marble using a well-placed sacrifice bunt to score Fifita from third, then it was Gonzalez singling to bring senior outfielder Brooklyn Pritchett across home plate. 
 
Needing just three outs to end the game, Brinka took care of three-straight Penn batters in the top of the fifth to secure the victory. 
 
As a team, Utah State hit .421 (8-for-19) in the game, with seven different Aggies recording hits and Fifita tallying two. 
 
Up Next
Utah State (13-8, 0-0 MW) will play a single game tomorrow to close out its stint at the Purple Classic, facing San Diego at 3 p.m. (MT). 
 
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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