Utah State Softball End of Season Notes

End of Season Notes 

WRAP IT UP — Utah State [University] softball concluded its best season in 20 years, posting a 26-25 overall record while going 12-12 in Mountain West action. The Aggies finished in a three-way tie for third place in the league standings, their highest conference finish since the 1993 squad claimed a share of the Big West title.

CHASING 1996 — Finishing the year at 26-25, Utah State softball secured its best team record since 1996, when the team went 33-24 on the year. The Aggies' 12 Mountain West wins are the most conference victories since the 1996 team posted a 17-15 Big West record. This is also the first time since the 1996 campaign that Utah State finished with a record above .500.

THE TWENTY PLATEAU — This is the first time since 2010 that Utah State has had 20 or more wins in a season. In all, Utah State has reached the 20-win plateau 23 times in program history, with the 1992 team holding the record with 43 wins.

A RECORD YEAR — In a strong offensive season for the Aggies, Utah State set several single-season records this year. The Aggies set new bests in runs scored (281), doubles (86), home runs (50), total bases (701), RBIs (259), slugging percentage (.492) and on base percentage (.383). Of those, five are bettered from last season's record-setting performances.

Additionally, the Aggies matched several single-game records, with three triples (March 19), 16 RBIs (March 19, April 22) and five stolen bases (March 19, April 22). On an individual level, four players also set or matched several single-game records. Senior outfielder Sarah Chow set a new triples record, hitting three against Northern Colorado. Sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke stole four bases against Boise State, also setting a new single-game best. Junior third baseman Victoria Saucedo was walked three times against Maryland, matching a record that has been hit 21 times. With six RBIs in two different games, senior pitcher/outfielder Noelle Johnson tied the single-game record that was set by Tina Ferguson in 2011.

CATCHING THE LEAD — In his third season as the head coach at Utah State, Steve Johnson has compiled a 63-98 record. Johnson will become the second-winningest coach in USU history with one more win. Of the eight previous head coaches at Utah State, three others amassed 63 wins in their careers. Lloydene Searle is the winningest coach in program history, finishing her 17-year career with a 505-369-2 record.

SHARING THE LOAD — A major change for the Aggies this season was increased depth at the pitcher position. After relying on a single player for the last three years, four different pitchers split time in the circle this year. Junior April Brown led the group with a 3.79 ERA, while freshman Katie Schroeder posted the best individual record, going 7-1, including a perfect 3-0 record in conference play. Senior Noelle Johnson threw 130.1 innings and eight complete games on the year.

LEAVING THEIR LEGACY — Graduating seniors Sarah Chow and Noelle Johnson have left their marks on the Utah State record books. Batting .334 in her career, Chow finishes with a hold in fourth place on the career batting average list. She also ranks third in runs scored (91), second in triples (12) and seventh in stolen bases (26). Johnson concludes her four-year run with a spot on all but one career pitching record list. She ranks first in games played (150), second in strikeouts (551), third in innings pitched (703.1), fourth in saves (5), seventh in wins (44), seventh in shutouts (9) and ninth in complete games (57). Additionally, Johnson is currently ranked second in being hit by a pitch (32) and ninth in RBIs (84).

Both seniors also hold several positions on single-season record lists for their performances this season. Chow is first in triples (8), tied for second in runs scored (36), fourth in stolen bases (15) and 10th in hits (59). Johnson is tied for sixth in both doubles (14) and RBIs (36).

ATHLETIC AND SMART — Seven Utah State softball players were named All-America Scholar-Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for the 2015-16 school year. Junior second baseman Kylie-Rose Dickson, senior pitcher Noelle Johnson, freshman outfielder Mia Maher, sophomore pitcher Jordyn McCracken, senior catcher Kirstyn Namba, senior first baseman Libby Pederson and freshman pitcher Katie Schroeder each earned All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades. To be named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, a student-athlete must earn a 3.5 or better grade point average for the entire school year. This is the second-straight season Johnson, McCracken, Namba and Pederson received the academic honor.

THE MOUNTAIN WEST'S BEST — Three Utah State softball players earned all-Mountain West accolades this season, as junior outfielder/pitcher Alleyah Armendariz, sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke and junior third baseman Victoria Saucedo were each named to the second team. These are the second career all-conference accolades for Armendariz and Saucedo, and the first for Clarke. Armendariz earned second-team honors last season, while Saucedo was the Mountain West Freshman of the Year with first-team recognition in 2014.

With its dominating 22-1 conference record, Fresno State showed its success in the postseason awards. Junior outfielder Kierra Willis was named Player of the Year, while senior right-hander Jill Compton earned the Pitcher of the Year title. Bulldog senior catcher Paige Gumz was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year honor, while Trisha Ford was named Coach of the Year. Boise State infielder Rebekah Cervantes picked up the 2016 Freshman of the Year accolade.

OFF-SEASON ADVANCEMENTS — At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Utah State softball announced the promotion of Windy Thees to associate head coach. Under her direction, Utah State's pitching staff developed depth and improved statistics in the 2016 season. Five players shared pitching duties this year, posting an overall ERA of 4.98, while allowing 447 hits and tallying 184 strikeouts.

YOU SAY GOODBYE — With the conclusion of the 2016 season, Utah State softball graduated the five members of its senior class. Third baseman Colby Argyle, outfielder Sarah Chow, pitcher/outfielder Noelle Johnson, catcher Kirstyn Namba and first baseman Libby Pederson all completed their degrees prior to playing their final games as Aggies. Junior college transfers Elysia Mesa, Jordan Smith and Anna Thomas have also elected to not return to the team next season.

I SAY HELLO — Last fall, Utah State signed four players to the roster for the 2016-17 season. Allanah Alvarado joins the Aggies from Hillarys, Western Australia. A catcher, she has played the last five seasons with the Carine Cats Softball Club. Riley Plogger is an outfielder from Redlands, Calif., who played at Redlands East Valley High and for SoCal Athletics. Devan Sperry is a shortstop who will join the Aggies from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., playing at Santa Margarita Catholic High School and for the Orange County Batbusters. The final signee, Kellie White, is a pitcher from Chula Vista, Calif., where she played at Mater Dei Catholic High School and for the California Cruisers.

OPPONENTS IN THE POSTSEASON — Four teams that Utah State played throughout the 2016 season played in the postseason tournament this year. Automatically qualifying as their respective conference champions, Fresno State, BYU, Weber State and Valparaiso each played in the Regionals round of tournament action. On the year, Utah State was 2-5 against these teams, splitting a pair of games against Weber State and defeating Valpo at the Rebel Classic. Of the in-state softball programs, Utah played the longest, advancing to Super Regionals, where its season came to an end after a pair of losses to No. 8 Florida State.

TOUR OF UTAH — Utah State played five games against in-state opponents this season, seeing matchups against each Division I program except for Utah. The Aggies posted a 3-2 record against local teams. USU opened the year with wins over Weber State (2-1) and Southern Utah (10-4) at the DeMarini Desert Classic, followed by a 5-2 road victory at Utah Valley. The Aggies then fell, 4-1, at BYU and dropped a home game to Weber State, 3-2. All-time, Utah State is 200-187-1 against in-state opponents.

HOME RUN HEROES — With 50 home runs on the year, Utah State broke the program's single-season home run record for the second year in a row, bettering last season's record of 40.

Junior third baseman Victoria Saucedo led the team this season with 12 home runs. Her first home run against the Broncos pushed the team to its new record. With that hit, Saucedo also tied the individual single-season home run record. In that game, Saucedo had two out-of-the-park hits, the first multiple home run game of her career. All-time at Utah State, she ranks third with 23 career home runs.

GRAND THEFT CLARKE — Using her speed to her advantage, sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke continues to move around the diamond with stolen bases. Clarke set new single-game and single-season steal records with her performance in the first game against Boise State, with four stolen bases that game. Clarke ended the season with 25 stolen bases, topping the previous season record of 17, while also putting her on the career steals list, ranking eighth all-time.

TRIPLE THREAT — With her three-base hit in the series finale win against Colorado State, senior outfielder Sarah Chow broke the USU single-season triples record, hitting her eighth of the season. Though she had just four triples in her career before this season, Chow ends her career ranked second in triples with 12. Her eight triples this season have her in a five-way tie for second-place nationally, just one three-base hit out of the NCAA lead.

BAT HER IN — Among the records this year's Utah State team has broken is the team RBI record. The Aggies tallied 259 RBIs, topping the record broken by the 2015 team at 229. Junior third baseman Victoria Saucedo led the team with 44 RBIs, which ranks second on the single-season record list. Just behind her, junior utility player Alleyah Armendariz is tied for fifth on the single-season list with 38, while senior pitcher/outfielder Noelle Johnson is tied for seventh with 36. The single-season record was set at 48 last season by Hailey Froton, who broke her own school record from the year prior.

STEALING AWAY — Utah State successfully stole base 64 times this year on 69 attempts. Those 64 steals are the most a USU team has tallied since the 1991 squad had 66. The all-time stolen base record was set at 67 by the 1981 USU team. Junior outfielder Jazmin Clarke led the team with 25 steals, followed by senior outfielder Sarah Chow with 15 and freshman pinch runner Mia Maher who had 10. Clarke now holds the single-season steals record at USU, while she ranks eighth on the career steals list with the same number. Chow has 26 stolen bases in her four seasons, which ranks seventh all-time. This is the first season since 2009 that Utah State has had multiple players with double-figure steal totals.

TOP OF THE NATION — At the conclusion of the Women's College World Series and the 2016 season, Utah State ends the year ranked highly among the nation in several categories on both team and individual player lists. The Aggies rank ninth in doubles per game (1.69), 16th in triples per game (0.27), 35th in slugging percentage (.490), 42nd in home runs per game (0.98), 53rd in batting average (.305), 52nd in scoring (5.51 rpg) and 69th in stolen bases per game (1.25).

Senior outfielder Sarah Chow ends the year tied for fifth in triples hit (8) and fifth in triples per game (0.16). Sophomore outfielder Jazmin Clarke is 36th in stolen bases per game (0.58). Senior pitcher/outfielder Noelle Johnson is ranked 65th in hit by pitch per game (0.24) and junior utility player Alleyah Armendariz ranks 64th in doubles per game (0.29).

THE LAST TIME OUT — Utah State softball concluded its 2016 season posting a 1-2 Mountain West home record against Nevada (L 4-12, W 7-6, L 3-4). Against the Wolf Pack, four pitchers saw time in the circle for the Aggies, led by junior April Brown who posted 1-0 record without allowing a run. Offensively, senior pitcher/outfielder Noelle Johnson led the team as she batted .400 (4-of-10) on the weekend, including two doubles. Senior catcher Kirstyn Namba was tops defensively with 11 putouts at the plate.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.