SOFTBALL:
TUCSON, Ariz. - Despite a solid performance from sophomore pitcher Mandy Harmon, the Utah State softball team dropped its final game at the Wildcat Invitational, 5-2, to Portland State in eight innings on Sunday in Tucson.
With the loss, the Aggies fall to 3-12. Utah State has now lost six-straight games, including all five at the Wildcat Invitational.
Utah State threatened in the bottom of the second inning when senior catcher Shasta Tyteca started the inning with a single to left. With one out, Tyteca then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position. When senior left fielder Megan McDonald flew out to center, Tyteca was called out for leaving to early to end both the threat and the inning.
Harmon kept Portland State off the scoreboard until the fifth when the Vikings plated two runs. Sadie Lopez started the rally with a single to left center. Pinch hitter Meghan Lyons followed with a single to right to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Alexa Morales moved both runners a base with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Arielle Wiser reached on an infield single that scored Lopez and moved Lyons to third. Danielle Lynn also singled to right to score Lyons before Harmon got the final out of the inning to keep the Viking lead at 2-0.
USU fought back in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the score at 2-2, taking advantage of a Viking miscue. Freshman designated player Jourdan Hitchings led off the inning, reaching on an error by second baseman Carly McEachran. Freshman center fielder Krista Bava then singled to center to put runners on first and second with no outs. Shasta Tyteca lined out to center, but Hitchings moved to third on the play to put one runner in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Ashley Ventura plated the first run of the game for USU. Bava would score the second run of the inning on a two-out double by McDonald to tie the game and force extra innings.
The game did not stay tied for very long as Portland State re-took the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Using the international tie-breaker rules, PSU started the inning with Crysta Conn at second base, who quickly moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The game-winning run came on a Becca Bliss double. Lynn's single to left would score two more runs and give the Vikings a 5-2 lead.
Despite starting the inning with a runner on second, the Aggies were not able to score in the bottom half of the inning as PSU won the game 5-2. This was Utah State's first extra inning game of the season.