SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Utah State softball (15-20, 4-6 MW) picked up a win on the road Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium, battling to a 4-3 victory with all four runs coming in the final two innings. 

The Aggies quickly fell behind 2-0 in the contest as the Aztecs used three hits in the first inning to score a pair of runs. The Aggies had opportunities to get on the board in each of the first four innings, getting a runner into scoring position in each, but on each occasion the runner was left stranded. 

It wasn't until the sixth inning that USU finally broke through into the scoring column. Following a double and a walk, an RBI single through the left side of the infield by freshman infielder Jazmin Ramirez put the Aggies on the board. Following a pitching change for the Aztecs, senior catcher Grace Matej stepped to the plate to deliver a hit through the right side, evening the game at 2-2. 

San Diego State quickly re-took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice bunt, but the advantage was short-lived. The Aggies pulled back even in the seventh on a sacrifice hit by senior infielder Alex Bunton. Then, down its final out, USU once again used heroics from Ramirez to score, as she sent a double out to left field to bring senior catcher Kaylee Erickson across the plate for the lead. 

In need of three outs, USU retired SDSU hitters in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory. 

Senior right-hander Rylie Pindel pitched the complete game for the Aggies, her fifth complete game victory of the season. She allowed just six hits and three earned runs in the win. 

Utah State totaled eight hits on the evening, led by two each from Erickson and Ramirez. 

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Utah State (15-20, 4-6 MW) will remain in San Diego for game two of the three-game series against San Diego State, playing tomorrow at 7 p.m. 

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.

- USU -