Spartans take first game of three game series 9-1.
March 27, 2009
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. -
Despite scoring first, the Utah State softball team dropped its Western Athletic Conference road opener to San Jose State 9-1 in six innings. With the loss, the Aggies are 6-20, 0-4 in WAC play, while the Spartans improve to 12-22, 1-3 in league contests.
The Aggies struck first in the top of the third when junior Emily Reilly started the inning with a single to rightfield. Reilly moved to second on a single by freshman Gina Rawls. Reilly was eliminated from the base paths on a Jasmine Harris fielder's choice, but Rawls moved to second. Rawls would then moved to third on a stolen base and come around to scored on a error by Spartan shortstop Morgan Otto.
"We had the opportunities to make defensive plays that we didn't make, and shut the door," USU head coach Candi Letts said. "Then they got a lead off double. If we go out and make the catch after that, I think it changes the whole perspective, and we gave them more opportunities. We are just one pitch away from taking care of what we need to."
San Jose State would reply scoring nine unanswered runs, scoring a trio of runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings to secure the game. In the bottom of the third inning, Morgan Otto got the rally started with a lead off double to left center. Julianne Aiello then single to leftfield, while Sarah Taylor reached on an infield single to load the bases. The star of the game Kelli Fangonilo doubled down the rightfield line to deliver two of her four RBI of the day. She would eventually come around to score on an error.
In the top of the fifth, the Aggies would threaten. Rawls singled with one out to start the rally. With two outs junior Nicole Rupp delivered an infield single to put runners on first and second. Freshman Rayna Bradshaw grounded out to end the rally.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Spartans ended the game with three runs on four hits to give San Jose State the 9-1 lead after six innings.
Senior Lindsey Benson took the loss and falls to 1-11 this season. Benson struck out four in six innings pitched. With the four strikeouts, Benson moves up to third all-time on the Utah State career strikeout list with 340.
The three-game series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. (MT). Last season, the Spartans captured the first game of the series in Logan, before the Aggies battled back to sweep the doubleheader.
-USU-
