Softball: Wolf Pack sweeps Utah State

RENO, Nev. - It took a little bit for Nevada's bats to warm up on a chilly April day, but the Wolf Pack pitching was hot enough to give WAC-leading Nevada a sweep over Utah State on Friday at Hixson Park.

Katie Holverson struck out five and yielded only an unearned run in a complete-game effort during a 3-1 victory in game one. Mallary Darby tossed a two-hit shutout in game two as Nevada run-ruled the Aggies 8-0.

The teams will meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. for Senior Day at Hixson Park. Ceremonies to honor Nevada's five seniors - Michelle Beach, Sarah Hunt, Brittany Puzey, Kym Silagyi and Katie Stith - will begin at 12:45 p.m.

Nevada improved to 32-14 overall and 12-4 in the WAC. Utah State fell to 10-34 and 3-14.

In the two games, senior Brittany Puzey homered and drew a pair of walks as she now has reached safely in 25 straight games and in 44 of Nevada's 46 games on the year.

Holverson won her 20th game of the season as she improved to 20-7 on the year and 9-1 in WAC play. This is just the third time in school history that a Nevada pitcher has won 20 games in a season and Holverson is two wins away from tying the school's single-season record.

Kym Silagyi and Michelle Beach each went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Puzey slammed a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Utah State's lone run came in the seventh and was unearned off Holverson.

In game two, Silagyi set school's single-season triples record with her seventh of the year. She also slammed a three-run double in the fourth inning. Sam Bias went 3-for-3 in the game. Britton Murdock and Noelle Micka each had a pair of hits as Nevada erupted for 13 hits in the five-inning game.

Darby improved to 12-7 overall as she struck out six and walked just one while yielding only two hits. It was her fifth shutout of the season.

With the sweep, Nevada's magic number to clinch its consecutive WAC regular season title is now 4.