Utah State softball: Aggies beat ACC's North Carolina State in season-opener

ATHENS, Ga. — Utah State's softball team defeated Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse, North Carolina State, in dramatic fashion, 6-5, in Friday’s season-opener.

Senior Lindsey Marquez completed a late game rally with a walk-off double blast that completed the Aggies' seventh-inning comeback in their first of two games Friday.

USU found itself in a defensive struggle in the second game of the day as it took on the Army. The Aggies fell to the Black Knights, 3-2.

In Game 1, the Wolfpack struck early in the first inning when Bethaney Wells singled up the middle to score Landon Warren. USU tightened the belt defensively, closing out the inning without allowing another run and forcing North Carolina State back to dugout with the bases loaded.

USU sophomore outfielder Kassy Uchida picked up right where she left off last season. In her first at-bat of the season she fired off a rocket to deep left field for a double and the first scoring threat of the year for the Aggies. Freshman outfielder Hailey Fronton and junior first baseman Christine Thomsen both drew walks from North Carolina State’s starting pitcher, Morgan Peeler.

Utah State could not capitalize on the early opportunity by making three straight outs and stranding two runners on base in scoring position.

NC State added to its lead in the top of the third inning when Leah Jones homered to left off Aggies starting pitcher junior Mandy Harmon, scoring three runs for the Wolfpack and pushing the lead to 4-0.

Utah State would respond later that inning by picking off Tate Chelsea while she was attempting to steal home to avoid surrendering another run in the frame.

USU would answer back in the bottom of the third with a run of its own, to keep the deficit in reach for the squad.

Uchida singled up the middle to once again leadoff an inning with a hit in the top spot. Fronton advanced to second when Thomsen was hit by a pitch, putting a runner in scoring position for the Aggies. Junior Kali Cancelosi would convert on the opportunity by lifting a single shot over third and down the line that would score Fronton and put Utah State on the board, but still trailing, 4-1.