RENO, Nevada – Utah State softball (24-20, 9-6 MW) saw a late comeback rally fall just short Friday afternoon at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park, dropping a high-scoring thriller against Nevada 17-14. 
 
In a game which featured 36 combined hits and 31 combined runs between the sides, the Aggies were unable to overcome an early 10-run deficit despite hitting a program-record-tying six home runs in the contest. 
 
After leading off the day with back-to-back walks to get a pair of runners on base, a double play followed by a groundout capped a scoreless first for the Aggies. The Wolf Pack then pounced, getting four hits and three runs on the board before recording a single out to force an early pitching change for USU. A fourth would come around following the change, before a six-hit, six-run second inning by the hosts made it a double-digit lead, pulling ahead 10-0. 
 
Despite the major deficit, however, Utah State did not go away quietly. The Aggies found some offensive rhythm in the third with a seven-run inning, boosted by four home runs. First, it was senior infielder Claudia Medina firing a solo shot over the center field fence for the first USU run of the day. Following the first out of the inning and a pair of hits, three-straight Utah State batters hit dingers — a three-run homer for senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez, then solo shots for junior catcher Kaylee Erickson and junior outfielder Kya Pratt. Gonzalez' four-bagger secured the single-season program record, her 16th home run of the season. A sac fly later in the inning by sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva concluded the seven-run inning. 
 
Nevada scored a single run in the bottom of the third, then scored the game's lone fourth-inning run. The Aggies once again inched closer in the fifth with three more runs. A sacrifice fly for senior infielder Ariel Fifita scored Medina from third, followed by a two-run homer for junior catcher Grace Matej to make the score 12-10. Nevada countered though, adding five more runs to its total in the bottom of the inning. 
 
The lone two runs of the sixth inning each belonged to Utah State as back-to-back RBI singles through the right side for Silva and Fifita narrowed the deficit to five runs. In need of at least five runs to stay alive in the final inning, USU brought two home on the second home run of the day for Pratt, but two quick outs followed to end the comeback hopes. 
 
In total, Utah State recorded 17 hits to Nevada's 19, going 17-for-34 (.472) at the plate with two doubles, six home runs, four walks and three strikeouts. Nine different Aggie batters recorded hits, including multiple hits for seven of them. Medina went a team-best 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, a home run, an RBI and three runs scored. Pratt went 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. 
 
USU went through three different pitchers, combining for 16 earned runs. Junior Denay Smith both started and closed the contest, pitching 2.0 innings in total with six earned runs. Junior Emmalyn Brinka took 1.2 innings with five earned runs and junior Carly Limosnero threw 2.1 innings with five earned runs. 
 
UP NEXT
Utah State (24-20, 9-6 MW) will conclude its three-game series against the Wolf Pack tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 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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