Third in an 8-part series of WAC team previews.Utah State Aggies
2011 overall record: 15-42
2011 WAC record: 8-13 (fifth place)
Returning starters: 4
Multiple storylines played out last season in Logan when a disastrous start was eased somewhat by a run to the WAC postseason tournament.
Utah State's 2011 campaign was well chronicled here. The Aggies set a dubious program and WAC softball record with a 19-game losing streak early in the year. From March 9 to April 8, Utah State went winless on its way to a 5-32 record after 37 games.
All was not lost, however. Seemingly out of nowhere, Utah State kicked things into gear in mid-April. Immediately after being swept in a doubleheader by lowly Weber State, the Aggies surprisingly took two of three games in a weekend conference series at San Jose State.
Following an 0-6 start in WAC play, Utah State was 2-7 and things were looking better. A shocking series win over then-first place Boise State followed, and suddenly the Aggies were hot. Even a 3-game setback against conference power Fresno State wasn't enough to stop Utah State's run.
After being swept by the Bulldogs, the Aggies marched into Reno and accomplished something they hadn't done since 2007. Utah State swept a 3-game series from Nevada on the road, solidifying a spot in the WAC postseason tournament. It was just the second 3-game series sweep by Utah State since 2004. In the end, the Aggies were the No. 5 seed in the conference tourney, their best seeding position ever.
Utah State was bounced early from the WAC Tournament, but the team proved it was a force to be reckoned with down the stretch, especially from an offensive standpoint.
And here's the rub: Utah State's leading hitter in WAC play a year ago, Tina Ferguson, is no longer on the team. As a sophomore last season, Ferguson hit a team-high .407 in WAC play and earned second team all-conference honors. She started 91 games in her two years with the team but is not listed on this season's roster. Ferguson was the lone Aggie to rank among the WAC's top 10 in either slugging percentage or on-base percentage in league play.
Also gone are Krista Bava and Ashley Ventura. Bava finished with a .300 batting average in WAC play and started 19 of Utah State's 21 conference games as a freshman last season. Her 21 RBI tied her for second on the team. Ventura had 31 hits and 17 RBI as a junior a year ago.
That's not to say the cupboard is bare by any means. Allison Lenzora and Kassandra Uchida, both of whom had strong freshman seasons a year ago, return after being named second team all-conference. Lenzora and Uchida hit .356 and .346 overall, respectively, to lead the squad. The two were even better in WAC play with .400 and .383 averages. Along with Ferguson, that gave Utah State three of the top 10 hitters in conference play.
Fifth year senior Kelley Kaneshiro, one of the top power hitters in school history, is back. She is Utah State's all-time home run leader with 32 in her career after hitting 10 a year ago, including five in conference games. Kaneshiro redshirted in 2009 and has reached double figures in home runs in each of her three seasons. Lindsey Marquez (.248 BA) also returns for her senior season after a solid 2011 that included 36 starts.
A veteran pitching staff that struggled at times last season returns intact. Juniors Shelbi Tyteca (6-12, 4.78 ERA) and Mandy Harmon (9-24, 5.50 ERA) are both back after combining to pitch in nearly every game for the Aggies a season ago. Tyteca pitched in 40 of Utah State's 57 games, while Harmon saw even more action. Harmon made 46 appearances for a team that pitched by committee a great deal of the time. No Utah State pitcher tossed a complete-game shutout in 2011.
Freshman pitcher Mariah Peterson could see significant time in the circle. The right-hander from Monument, Colo., arrives on the scene with great credentials. Utah State also adds Christine Thomsen, who started 49 games in 2010 at Colorado State. A power hitter, Thomsen headlines a list of nine newcomers, including eight freshmen.
A realistic goal this season would not only be to reach the WAC postseason tournament, but to finally win a game. Utah State has reached the conference tourney three times but has never won a game, going 0-6 in three appearances.
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