March 27, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State softball returns to the diamond on Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, hosting 13th-ranked Fresno State in the Aggies' Western Athletic Conference home opener. Utah State will takes its 0-3 conference record into Friday's single game at 3 p.m. (MT) and Saturday's twinbill at 1 p.m. (MT). Games will at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field and admission for all home games is free.

The Aggies are 6-18 on the season after going 3-1 on Tuesday and Wednesday this week against in-state foes Utah Valley and Utah. USU is lead by sophomore CF Emily Reilly's .348 batting average, while junior P Lindsey Benson leads the team with a 5.18 ERA. As a team, USU ranks fourth in the WAC in walks (82), fifth in home runs (14) and seventh in team batting (.233).

The 13th-ranked Bulldogs are 30-5 overall and have an eight-game winning streak, after winning the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., going 5-0 on the weekend. Offensively, FS is led by freshman IF Haley Gilleland's .407 average at the plate and defensively by freshman P Morgan Melloh's 20-3 record with a 1.05 ERA. As a team, Fresno State is first in the WAC in batting (.318), hits (300) and runs (199).

Utah State is 11-18 all-time vs. Fresno State having lost the last five in a row and seven of the last eight meetings.

The Aggies continue their 10-game homestand with a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1 hosting Utah Valley at 2 p.m. USU wraps up its current homestand with a three-game series against San Jose State on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5.