Uchida Has a Solid Day as USU Softball Falls Twice in Day Two of the Wildcat Invitational Add Comment    Mar 05, 2011

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2011

Contact: Kara Fisher

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Uchida Has a Solid Day as USU Softball Falls Twice in Day Two of the Wildcat Invitational

Freshman Kassy Uchida leads the Aggie offense in Arizona.

TUCSON, Ariz. - Desert air has proven to be tough for the Utah State softball team as the Aggies fell to UC Riverside, 4-1, and Idaho State, 10-2 in five innings, in day two of the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by the University of Arizona Saturday.

With the losses, the Aggies fall to 3-11. Utah State has now lost five-straight games, including four-straight at the Wildcat Invitational.

In the first game, Utah State threatened in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Kassy Uchida began a very solid day with a double to right center. Freshman designated player Christina Cummings then reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, junior third baseman Tatem Day singled to left to load the bases. Starting pitcher, Jordyn McDonald, got junior second baseman Lindsey Marquez to fly out to end the threat.

In the top of the second inning, UCR took an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Alexis Pickett walked and promptly scored on a triple by Coco Villamor to give the Highlanders the early 1-0 advantage.

In the third, UCR added two more runs to go up 3-0. Ariel Shore singled to lead off the inning and later stole second. Kameryn Hebenton was hit by a pitch to take her base, and Brittany Keeney's double to right center scored both runners. The Highlanders added one more run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-1 lead.

USU got one run back in the bottom of the seventh inning.  With one out, senior center fielder Joreigh Landers singled to left. Uchida drove in her second run of the season with a double down the right field line to score Landers. The freshman went 3-for-4 with one RBI to lead USU in the game. 

Harmon fell to 2-8 with the loss, despite allowing only four earned runs. Sophomore Kali Cancelosi pitched the final inning, allowing no runs and only one hit.

In the second game, Uchida continued her solid play, adding two more hits. She went 5-for-7 on the day.

Idaho State took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Desirae Hoffman started the inning with a single to center and moved to second on a Brittany Olsin single to short, while Jessica Baca followed with a walk to load the bases off of starting pitcher, junior Dani Chaplin. Terah Blackwell walked to bring home Hoffman and put the Bengals up 1-0. ISU added another run in the bottom of the third.

Utah State tied the score in the top of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. With one out, freshman right fielder Krista Bava singled to left and senior left fielder Megan McDonald reached on a fielder's choice. Senior designated player Shasta Tyteca reached on an infield single to load the bases. Junior first baseman Ashley Ventura came through with a  two-run single up the middle to score both Bava and McDonald.

The Bengals bit back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring eight runs to end the game. The inning was highlighted by an Amanda Fitzsimmons home run and a two-run single by Baca.

Chaplin (0-1) took the loss for the Aggies in her first start in a Utah State uniform, pitching four innings. Cancelosi pitched 0.1 innings allowing the final Bengal run.

Utah State closes out the Wildcat Invitational on Sunday, March 6 against Portland State at 11 a.m. (MT).

Fans can follow USU softball on Twitter and Utah State Athletics at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.

Article written by

Utah College Sports Wire