COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Utah State softball (4-1, 0-0 MW) capped a five-game stint at the Texas A&M-hosted Aggie Classic with a pair of wins at Davis Diamond on Saturday, improving to 4-1 in its opening week with a 5-1 win over Bryant and a 3-1 win over Providence.
Utah State 5, Bryant 1
Utah State jumped early and came just a single out from a shutout in its 5-1 morning win over America East foe Bryant. Senior right-hander Rylie Pindel earned her first pitching win of the season with a complete game in the circle, going 6.2 innings without allowing a run before the Bulldogs got on the board with a single home run on their final out. Pindel faced 26 batters, allowing just five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
USU set the tone in the first inning, taking command with three runs. The Aggies loaded the bases with just a single out before senior catcher Kaylee Erickson sent a single through the left side for the first run of the day. Senior infielder Alex Bunton immediately followed with an RBI single of her own, before a sac fly by freshman infielder Jazmin Ramirez made it a 3-0 game.
The Aggies left a combined five runners on base in the second and third innings, before back-to-back doubles added to their lead in the fourth. Freshman infielder Kate Vance went first, followed by senior outfielder Kya Pratt. The fifth and final run came the following inning as an RBI groundout by sophomore outfielder Faith Kroening scored freshman outfielder Haylee Lopez, who was pinch running following a walk by Ramirez.
In total, the Utah State recorded 10 hits, including two-apiece for Vance, Lopez, Kroening and junior infielder Keely Goushá.
Utah State 3, Providence 1
In the afternoon game, USU's defense and pitching were a force once again, as the Aggies held their fourth opponent of the five-game weekend to two or fewer runs. Following a scoreless first inning, Utah State got on the board in the second when Erickson hit a one-out solo shot over the left center field fence, her second home run of the weekend. The Aggies went on to load the bases, but couldn't generate a second run in the inning.
In the third inning, Bunton made it a 2-0 ballgame with a two-out single to bring senior catcher Matej in from home. This was one of a team-best three hits for Bunton in the contest, as she went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. The Friars answered with their lone run in the bottom of the inning, coming on an RBI double.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Aggies scored their third and final run in the fifth inning. Once again it was Bunton coming up big, sending a single to left field to score Pratt from third.
Senior right-hander Emmalyn Brinka was dominant in the pitching circle for the Aggies, pitching all seven innings and striking out nine batters. This was a new career high for strikeouts, topping her previous best of seven which she set against Abilene Christian on Thursday. Brinka faced 29 batters, walking just four and allowing three hits and a single earned run.
UP NEXT
Utah State (4-1, 0-0 MW) will travel to Riverside, California, next week for the Cal Baptist Classic, playing five games from Feb. 13-15. There, it will face Hawai'i twice, along with Saint Francis, Loyola Marymount and Cal State Bakersfield.
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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