ST GEORGE, Utah – Utah State softball (10-9, 0-0 MW) dropped a pair of games against in-state foes on day two of the Beehive Classic Saturday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field, losing to Utah 11-0 in five innings before falling to Utah Valley 13-7.
Utah State 0, Utah 11 (5 Innings)
In the morning slate, things got away from the Aggies quickly as they suffered an 11-0 run-rule defeat to Utah. The Utes scored 11 runs on just eight hits in the contest, using a nine-run second inning to run away with it.
After both sides ended the first inning scoreless, Utah put nine runs on the board in the second before picking up a second out. The Utes quickly loaded the bases, before back-to-back walks resulted in RBIs, then back-to-back hit by pitches made it a 4-0 game. Utah then followed with a pair of singles and a 3 RBI double before finally picking up its final two outs of the inning.
Utah tacked on two more runs in the third inning with a 2 RBI base hit.
The Aggies totaled three hits in the contest and left four players on base. They used four arms in the pitching circle, with junior Emmalyn Brinka starting and being awarded the loss after 1.1 innings pitched. Freshman Kendall Cochran faced three batters in the second inning before being relieved by senior Sydney Saldaña, who went 1.2 innings with no earned runs. Freshman Jordyn Lish closed the final inning without allowing an earned run.
Utah State 7, Utah Valley 13
In the second game of the day, the Wolverines struck first with a quick start, putting two runs on the board with three hits in the top of the first inning. The Aggies answered immediately, however, scoring three runs of their own. After loading the bases before recording an out, a groundout by freshman infielder Jazmin Ramirez brought in the first run. Then, a single to left center by freshman infielder Kate Vance scored sophomore outfielder Faith Kroening and senior infielder Alex Bunton to make it a 3-2 game.
Utah Valley once again gained some separation with back-to-back three-run innings in the second and third to go up 8-3, but the Aggies remained resilient. In the bottom of the fourth, they would score four runs. A double by freshman outfielder Haylee Lopez accounted for the first RBI, immediately followed by a 2-RBI double by senior catcher Grace Matej and an RBI single by Kroening.
The rally wasn't enough, though. Following two scoreless innings, UVU scored five more runs in the sixth inning to retake command of the game while Utah State was held without a run for the final four innings.
In total, Utah Valley recorded 17 hits to Utah State's 12, USU's second-most of the season. The Aggies were led at the plate by Kroening, who went 4-for-5 in the game with an RBI and a run scored. Matej, Vance and Lopez each recorded two hits.
In the pitching circle, senior Rylie Pindel started and was awarded the loss with eight earned runs in 2.2 innings pitched. Lish took the next 2.2 innings, followed by 0.1 innings for Brinka and the final 1.1 innings by senior Carly Limosnero.
UP NEXT
Utah State (10-9, 0-0 MW) will remain in St. George tomorrow for the third and final day of the Beehive Classic, where it will face tournament-host Utah Tech at 12:30 p.m. The game will be streamed for free on WAC International.
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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