LOGAN, Utah – The Nevada softball team led in both games but ended up dropping a pair of games at Utah State on Friday.
With the losses, Nevada fell to 14-16 on the year and 1-4 in WAC play. Utah State improved to 14-15 and 3-2.
The final game of the series, originally scheduled for 12 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday, has been moved up to 10 a.m. (Pacific) due to weather in the Cache Valley.
Nevada struck first in game two as a ground ball by Danielle Patrick was booted b y Utah State shortstop Rachel Evans, allowing Megan Fincher to score from third in the third.
But the Aggies came back strong in the fourth. Kali Cancelosi hit a solo home run off of Katie Holverson and four batters later, Tina Ferguson hit a two-run shot as Utah State took a 3-1 lead.
Nevada came roaring back in the fifth, however. With two outs, Noelle Micka and Danielle Patrick singled. After Sam Bias walked, Britton Murdock came to the plate and blasted a grand slam to give Nevada the lead. Kelsey Starr then reached on catchers’ interference and Sam Puzey walked. Amanda Nims was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Megan Fincher then singled up the middle and Starr scored to give Nevada a 7-3 lead.
The Pack was unable to hold the lead, however, as the Aggies scored eight runs in the sixth, using three home runs and benefitting from a pair of Nevada errors to take and 11-7 lead
In game one, Nevada grabbed the early lead with a run in the first inning. Back-to-back singles by Danielle Patrick and Sam Bias gave Nevada runners on first and second with one out. After Britton Murdock popped out, Kelsey Starr singled to score Patrick.
Neither team scored until the third inning as Utah State loaded the bases with one out. Nevada right fielder Lauren Lastrapes committed an error that open the door for a six-run inning that chased Wolf Pack starter Katie Holverson from the game.
The Wolf Pack battled back in the fourth, however. Lastrapes singled to lead off the inning and Sam Puzey followed with a double. A single by Megan Fincher scored Lastrapes. After Kortnee Wiley struck out and Noelle Micka grounded out, Danielle Patrick doubled down the left field line to score two more.
That cut the Utah State lead to 6-4. But Nevada would get no closer and Utah State would close things out with six runs – four unearned – in the sixth to get the win.
Noelle Micka went 0-for-4 in game one and saw her hit streak snapped at 20 games.
