March 8, 2008

Box Score

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Utah State softball split its first doubleheader of the season at Colorado State on Saturday, picking up the first game, 4-3, in a come-from-behind win and falling in the second game, 6-3.

The Aggies took a break from tournament action to travel to head coach Candi Letts' old stomping grounds for its first three-game series of the year. Letts was the head coach at Colorado State from 1994-98, and has the highest winning percentage (.602 on 160 wins) in the programs' history.

USU is now 3-8 on the season, while CSU improves to 12-3 overall. The Aggies still lead the all-time series with the Rams, 27-16.

Colorado State started out game one with two home runs in the bottom of the first inning. USU junior first baseman Aubrie Stroman responded with a home run in the top of the second to put the Aggies on the board. CSU plated another run in the bottom of the third to go up 3-1.

Utah State tallied a run in the sixth as freshman left fielder Megan McDonald singled to right bringing in senior third baseman Amy Schaible and cut into CSU's lead, making it 3-2.

Schaible hit a triple in the seventh to score sophomore center fielder Emily Reilly and tie up the game. Junior designated hitter Kayla Dunn singled to left field which brought in Schaible for the winning run in the top of the seventh and USU hung on for the victory.

Junior pitcher Lindsey Benson struck out three in seven innings to earn the win, as she made her eighth start of the year and pitched her fourth complete game.

In game two, CSU scored three runs in as many innings to start off the game. USU's McDonald scored on a wild pitch while junior second baseman Jeanine Hernandez hit a sacrifice bunt to plate freshman pinch hitter Jessica Law and bring the score to 3-2 in the visitors' half of the fifth.

Colorado State tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth before Schaible brought in Reilly in the top of the seventh on a double down the left field line with two outs. Freshman shortstop Kelley Kaneshiro grounded out to the end rally and the game.

The Aggies wrap up the three-game series against Colorado State with a single contest on Sunday, March 9 at Noon at CSU's Ram Field.