Softball comes up short in Red Desert finale

BOX SCORE: vs. Utah State

ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Utah State's six-run fourth inning was too much for Northern Colorado's softball team to overcome Saturday afternoon during the final day of play at BYU's Red Desert Classic.

The Bears scored first, but the Aggies scored more in an 8-2 victory.

Junior-transfers Jessica McNabb and Noel Wees led Northern Colorado (2-3) offensively in the loss, with McNabb finishing 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot and Wees coming in 2-for-3.

Sophomore Kailee Vessey also was 2-for-3.

Sophomore Jamie Juelfs started in the circle for Northern Colorado, but she only pitched into the second inning. Kelli Henderson came on in relief and gave up seven runs on five hits in three innings.

McNabb started the game with a double to left-center field, and Henderson, as the designated player, followed with a run-scoring single up the middle. Henderson later was cut down at the plate trying to score on a fielder's choice by freshman Melisa Ryba.

The Aggies then scored two in the bottom of the first and six more in the fourth to get the win.

Northern Colorado, after playing five games in three days, will now take a little bit of a break before traveling to El Paso, Texas, to play UTEP in a doubleheader on Feb. 18.