By: Loren Miller, USU Eastern Sports Information
PRICE – Utah State Eastern softball went 3-2 in the Great Western Shootout Tournament in Yuma, Arizona on Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles opened the tournament on Friday afternoon with a 8-4 win over Luna Community College.
Freshman McKenna Gubanich led the Eagles at the plate against Luna with two hits, three RBIs and a home run.
USU Eastern head coach Brittani Richins said that as a team they improved at the plate from the previous weekend.
“They hit better as a team and they made adjustments in the box. They saw the ball more and it helped them,” said Richins.
Freshman Ashley Sweat had three hits and two RBIs for USU Eastern in the win.
The Eagles lost to Arizona Western 8-1 and Eastern Arizona 10-6 to finish out their Friday schedule at the tournament.
On Saturday morning they took down Glendale Community College behind a big fourth inning at the plate.
Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Sophomore Madison Blauer doubled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run. Sophomore shortstop Cassidy Howe then tripled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs, and Taylor Passarella doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run to put the Eagles up 6-3.
USU Eastern finished the weekend with an 8-5 win over South Mountain Community College.
The game was tied at four with the Eagles batting in the bottom of the fifth when South Mountain induced Mackenzie Isaacs to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored. The Eagles would add two more runs in that inning to give themselves a big lead heading into the final innings of the game.
Freshman pitcher Carlye Levy picked up the win as the pitcher against South Mountain and had a 4.50 ERA and only gave up one run in three innings of work.
Returning from injury and making her debut for the Eagles, pitcher Shaylea Bunn provided important innings in the circle for USU Eastern to help them have a successful weekend in Yuma.
Bunn went 1-0 with one save and pitched the most innings for the Eagles with 14 in the tournament. She gave up 20 hits and had a 3.00 ERA as well.
“It was important to have her back because we did not have to rely on the others too much and it gives us more versatility,” said Richins.
Howe’s performance over the weekend earned her honors as the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week. She batted .688 with 11 hits, five doubles, two triples, and six RBI’s in 16 at-bats in the tournament.
Richins said that Howe is type of player that steps in crucial situations and likes to perform well under pressure.
“She is a clutch player who likes to be in the moment and in big situations,” said Richins.
The Eagles now have a 5-5 overall record with the next few weeks off to prepare for conference play.
They will host Colorado Northwest for a four-game series beginning on March 2 to open their SWAC schedule.
Fans can catch all the USU Eastern home softball games on the USU Eastern Athletics YouTube channel.