LOGAN, Utah – Utah State softball (26-22, 11-8 MW) secured a spot in its first ever Mountain West Championship on Saturday, taking one of two games in a doubleheader against UNLV. The Aggies split five-inning contests, winning the first 12-4 before losing 10-2 in the second.
The Mountain West Tournament, which will take place from May 7-10 in San Diego, California, will be the first postseason action by a Utah State team since the 2017 National Invitational Softball Championship, and the first conference tournament the team has played in since the 2011 WAC Tournament.
Game 1 – Utah State 12, UNLV 4 (5 innings)
In the first contest of the day, Utah State got off to a slow start but picked up steam throughout to earn the run-rule victory. The Aggies faced an early deficit after allowing a two-run home run to the Rebels in the first inning, but were able to take control in the second inning when a 2-RBI single by junior infielder Alex Bunton was followed by an RBI double for senior infielder Ariel Fifita to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
In the third, UNLV was able to even the score with an RBI triple, but the Aggies quickly took command again in the bottom of the inning with four more runs. First, it was an RBI single to center field by senior infielder Claudia Medina. Then, a 2-RBI hit for senior infielder Lyndsey Madrigal, followed by a single by sophomore outfielder Tatum Silva later in the inning to bring Bunton in from third.
With a 7-3 lead in hand, Utah State retired UNLV in order in the fourth before tacking on four more runs. Medina added on to her RBI total by tallying another on a double to left center field. A single through the right side for sophomore infielder Emerson Meggers stretched the lead to 9-3, before a bases-loaded walk for Silva immediately followed by a wild pitch to score Meggers made it an 11-3 contest.
The Rebels scored a run in the top of the fifth to momentarily move out of run-rule territory, but the third hit of the game for Medina in the bottom of the inning brought junior outfielder Kya Pratt across the bag to secure the victory.
Utah State out-hit UNLV 13-4 in the game, going 13-for-25 (.520) at the plate. Medina led the Aggies with a 3-for-3 performance, tallying three RBIs and two runs scored. Silva and Pratt each recorded multiple hits as well, both going 2-for-3.
Junior right-hander Emmalyn Brinka had a strong showing in the pitching circle, throwing all five innings for the Aggies and allowing just four hits and two earned runs on the day to earn the win.
Game 2 – Utah State 2, UNLV 10 (5 innings)
In the afternoon slate, offense was much more difficult to come by for Utah State, as the Aggies totaled just two runs with six hits in a run-rule loss. UNLV took control early with a two-run home run in the top of the second, then consistently tacked on runs throughout.
After allowing three more runs in the top of the third to go down 5-0, USU’s first run of the contest came in the bottom of the inning when a triple to right center field by Silva brought Fifita in all the way from first base. Utah State left a pair of runners on base in both the second and third innings.
The Rebels extended their lead with a run in the fourth, then four more in the fifth to go up 10-1. In need of at least two runs to avoid the run rule loss, Utah State was able to produce a pair of hits and a run in the bottom of the inning, a solo shot home run down the left field line by Madrigal, but couldn’t pull any closer.
Utah State recorded six hits to UNLV’s 14, hitting 6-for-20 (.300) in the contest. Silva was the lone Aggie with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple and an RBI.
USU utilized four different pitchers in the contest. Junior Denay Smith started and pitched a team-high 2.2 innings with five earned runs and eight hits allowed. She was replaced by junior Carly Limosnero who faced four batters and earned one out, then junior Rylie Pindel went the next 1.2 innings with three earned runs and four hits allowed. Junior Sydney Saldaña entered to take care of the final batter.
UP NEXT
Utah State (26-22, 11-8 MW) will wrap up its regular season slate next weekend with a three-game series at Boise State from May 1-3 in Boise.
