Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HENDERSON – Utah State Eastern Softball went 1-1 in the first day of the CSN Kickoff Classic in Henderson on Friday.

They opened the day with a 14-0 loss to the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters.

 "The goal was to control the controllable and we struggled with that during the first game," said USU Eastern Head Coach Ryan Smith. "They fought a tough fight but Eastern Arizona was just hitting it in the right spots."

The Eagles were able to rebound later that night with an exciting 8-7 win over the Pima Community College Aztecs.

In the first inning of the game the Eagles were able to put up four runs over the Aztecs.

That lead wouldn't be safe as both teams would go back and forth throughout the game until the seventh inning when PIma tied the game.
 
With the game tied at 7-7 in the seventh inning, sophomore McKenna Gubanich hit the game-winning walk-off home run to give USU Eastern their first win of the season.

"Walk offs are always awesome especially with a tough situation she was put into. I knew it was gone as soon as it came off the bat," said Smith.

After the game Gubanich said it was one of the best moments in her softball career.

"I was jumping with joy.it was definitely one of the coolest things to ever happen to me, I had chills when I heard everyone screaming for me," said Gubanich.

Friday's win not only was the first win of the season, it was the first win under Coach Smith as head coach of the Eagles.

"I'm proud of the girls for not letting the first game get them down and come back ready to go the second game," Coach Smith.

After the long and emotional day one of the tournament, the Eagles will have a triple header on Saturday with games against Central Arizona, Arizona Western, and Yavapai.

USU Eastern will open the day with an early morning game against Central Arizona at 9 a.m. Mountain Time.