RENO, Nevada – Utah State softball (24-19, 9-5 MW) dropped game one of a three-game series between the top two teams in the Mountain West standings on Thursday, losing to Nevada 8-7. The Aggies started strong but fell apart late, surrendering a 7-1 lead in the loss. 
 
While hitting against a familiar face in Nevada pitcher Hailey McLean, the Aggie bats got off to a hot start, putting seven runs up in 4.2 innings against their former teammate. Nevada struck first with an RBI single in the first inning, but the next seven runs belonged to Utah State. 
 
In the third inning, a leadoff triple for sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva gave USU a spark. Following a five-pitch walk for senior infielder Ariel Fifita the next at-bat, junior catcher Grace Matej delivered a single to left field to even the game at 1-1. Just two pitches later, senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez sent a shot over the center field fence to take the lead with a three-run homer. This was the 15th home run of the season for Gonzalez, to tie the program's single-season record set by Gabriella Jimenez in 2022. 
 
After a scoreless fourth for both sides, Utah State tacked on three more runs in the fifth to build its lead to 7-1. Matej led off the inning with the team's second triple of the day, the first time USU had recorded multiple triples in a contest since 2020. Back-to-back outs followed the triple, but a two-out home run by junior outfielder Kya Pratt helped the Aggies gain separation. With the bases cleared, senior outfielder Olivia Marble hit a single then stole second, and was brought home by a double from the next batter, junior infielder Alex Bunton to force a Nevada pitching change.
 
The Wolf Pack scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run. Things then started to unravel in the sixth as Nevada pulled with a run with a four-run sixth. The Aggies generated just a single hit and no runs in each of the final two innings, leaving the door open for a Nevada comeback as the Wolf Pack tied the game with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, then used a knock to center field to walk off the victory. 
 
In total, Utah State went 11-for-31 (.355) at the plate with a double, two triples and two home runs. Matej, Gonzalez and Marble each had multi-hit, 2-for-4 efforts, while Gonzalez registered a team-best three RBIs in the contest. 
 
The Aggies utilized three different pitchers. Junior Emmalyn Brinka started and closed the game, being credited for the loss with 5.2 innings pitched and seven earned runs while throwing five strikeouts. Junior Carly Limosnero entered and exited in the sixth with two hits and no outs, and junior Denay Smith faced three batters with one earned run.  
 
UP NEXT
Utah State (24-19, 9-5 MW) will play part two of the three-game series against the Wolf Pack tomorrow, beginning at 4 p.m. (MT). The series concludes Saturday at 1 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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