ATHENS, Ga. – Utah State softball (7-5, 0-0 MW) dropped a pair of games to top-20 opponents Friday at Jack Turner Softball Stadium on the first day of the Georgia Classic, losing 10-3 to No. 20 Virginia Tech, before falling to No. 12 Georgia 4-1.
Utah State 3, No. 20 Virginia Tech 10
In the first game of the day, Utah State got on the board early and kept the Hokies in check for a while, but were unable to keep pace in the middle innings in a 10-3 loss.
The Aggies struck first, scoring two of their three runs before recording a single out as a leadoff walk by sophomore outfielder Faith Kroening was immediately followed by a home run over the right center field fence by senior catcher Grace Matej to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
While Virginia Tech loaded the bases in each of the first two innings, USU kept the Hokies at bay as it allowed just a single run in each inning to keep the game even through two. It wasn't until back-to-back four-run innings in the third and fourth innings that VT pulled ahead. Untimely walks cost the Aggies throughout the day, as they allowed eight walks without a strikeout in the contest.
Needing a run to avoid the run rule, Utah State once again relied on Matej in the fifth inning, as she hit her second home run of both the day and the season, this time a solo shot over left center field. Matej accounted for three of USU's four hits in the contest with a 3-for-3 showing at the plate. The Hokies were held scoreless in the final two innings.
Freshman right-hander Kendall Cochran started in the circle for the Aggies, throwing 1.0 innings with two earned runs, before senior Emmalyn Brinka took over in the second and went the next 2.0 innings with six earned runs. Senior Sydney Saldaña threw the final 3.0 innings, a new season-high, while allowing just three hits and a single earned run.
Utah State 1, No. 12 Georgia 4
In the afternoon contest, one inning made the difference as the Aggies limited Georgia's high-powered offense to just four runs in a 4-1 loss.
Walked batters were once again costly for Utah State. In the second inning, a single was followed by four-straight walks which led to the first two runs of the game for the Bulldogs. Georgia then hit into a double play for its first two outs of the inning, but a passed ball scored another runner from third to make it a 3-0 game, despite just a single hit in the inning.
Despite the early deficit, Utah State held strong. Senior right-hander Rylie Pindel, who entered the circle in the second inning and went the rest of the way, allowed just three hits and a single earned run in her 5.0 innings.
USU's lone run came in the fourth inning when freshman infielder Jazmin Ramirez reached base on a fielder's choice RBI to score senior infielder Alex Bunton from third. With two runners in scoring position and just a single out, the Aggies were unable to capitalize.
In the fifth inning, USU once again generated a pair of hits before recording a second out, but a double play cut the inning short. Utah State then loaded the bases in the sixth with back-to-back singles and a hit by pitch before recording an out, but three-straight retired batters then ended the inning.
In total, the Aggies out-hit Georgia 7-4, but left nine runners stranded in the contest.
UP NEXT
Utah State (7-5, 0-0 MW) will remain in Athens, Georgia, tomorrow for day two of the Georgia Classic. The Aggies will face Seton Hall in the morning at 11 a.m. (MT), before a rematch against No. 12 Georgia in the afternoon at 4 p.m. The Georgia game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
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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