SAN JOSE, Calif. – Utah State softball (23-15, 8-2 MW) secured a road sweep and its eighth-straight Mountain West victory Sunday afternoon, defeating San José State 5-1. With the win, the Aggies improve to 8-2 in league play and remain atop the conference standings. 
 
It didn't take the Aggies long to get into the run column in this one, as a leadoff walk was followed by a sacrifice bunt and a single to left field for senior infielder Giselle Gonzalez to bring senior infielder Ariel Fifita around from second. The Spartans countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring as a batter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 
 
After each side scored in the first, the teams played three scoreless innings. In the fifth, Utah State reclaimed the lead when a triple from senior outfielder Olivia Marble scored sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva from first. Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly out to center field to extend the lead as Marble crossed the plate.
 
With a 3-1 advantage entering the final inning, junior catcher Grace Matej added a pair of insurance runs with a 2-RBI double out to center field to score Silva and freshman outfielder Rylee Turlington and extend the lead. 
 
Junior right-hander Rylie Pindel had an outstanding performance to earn the pitching win for the Aggies after taking over in the second inning and pitching the final 6.0 innings with just four hits and no earned runs allowed, walking just a single batter. Junior Denay Smith started and earned the first three outs for USU. 
 
Utah State recorded nine hits to San José State's five, going 9-for-24 (.375) at the plate with two doubles and a triple in the contest. USU's nine hits came from eight different batters, Silva going 2-for-2 with two runs scored as the only Aggie with multiple hits. Gonzalez and Matej were each responsible for a team-best two RBIs. 
 
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Utah State (23-15, 8-2 MW) will now return home to host Idaho State on Tuesday, April 8, at 4 p.m., at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field. The Aggies will then host a three-game conference series against Fresno State with games April 11-13. 
 
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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