Photo by Derick Levy
By Loren Miller, Utah State Eastern Sports Information
Utah State Eastern softball split its road series 2-2 with the Snow College Badgers on Friday and Saturday. It was the second series of the year against the Badgers as earlier this season the Eagles lost the series 3-0 in Saint George. The series had to move to a neutral site from Price due to weather.
“We are progressing each week and that is what we have to do with the way our season is set up. This team is learning to relentless. These close games are preparing us for the future,” said USU Eastern head coach Ryan Smith.
GAME ONE
The Eagles defeated the Badgers 3-2 in game one of the series on Friday. Led by pitcher Carlye Levy, the Eagles wouldn’t allow a run to cross home until the bottom of the sixth. Levy earned the win after pitching seven innings with four strikeouts and only allowing two runs and five hits.
The go ahead score came off the bat of sophomore McKenna Gubanich in the top of the sixth as she hit an RBI double to right field.
GAME TWO
Later on Friday, the Eagles fell to the Badgers 7-6. The Eagles struggled in the first three innings of the game and fell behind 5-1 to Snow.
“We are still struggling to adjust and to control our game. When we control our approach, we will control our destiny,” said Smith.
In the top of the fourth, the Eagles added four runs to the tie the game at 5-5. Gubanich and Avery Blackhurst each added an RBI single in the fourth to help lead the comeback.
Trailing 6-5 in the top of the seventh, an error by Snow allowed Riley Stookey to cross home plate to tie the game at 6-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, Snow’s Alvyia Woosley’s ground out with bases loaded brought home the game-winning run to tie the series at 1-1.
GAME THREE
On Saturday, the Eagles defeated the Badgers 15-9 in game three.
Snow tied the game up at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Eagles’ bats came alive as they added nine runs, including a grand slam from sophomore Jaiden Smith.
“Everyone kept finding ways to get on base and we were able to get one across,” said Smith. “There is nothing like batting around the line up in extra innings.”
Freshman Alicia Cruz added a triple with bases loaded in the inning to put the game out of reach.
GAME FOUR
After the Eagles extra inning win over the Badgers, the concluded the series with a 9-1 game four loss. The lone run of the game for the Eagles came in the top of the fifth when an RBI single by Levy brought home Rilee Stookey. Levy had three hits in game four and seven hits overall in the series.
Gubanich also had a great weekend at the plate for the Eagles with six hits, three doubles, and three RBIs. Stookey, Smith, and Cruz each led the Eagles in RBIs with four.
“These players and most of the others are buying into playing for a team. They are getting it done when they need to and are being good leaders on and off the field,” said Smith.
USU Eastern now sits at 6-13 in conference and 8-23 overall. They currently are tied for fourth place with the College of Southern Nevada.
The Eagles will host Colorado Northwestern this Friday and Saturday at the Carbon County Fairgrounds. Friday’s doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. and Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon. All four games will be broadcast on the Scenic West Digital Network at scenicwestsports.com.