March 27, 2009
Box Score
BISU 10, UND 2 - Box Score
BYU 4, ISU 0 - Box Score
Orem, UT --- Idaho State sent 12 batters to the plate in an eight-run fourth inning to power their way past North Dakota 10-2 on Saturday afternoon at Utah Valley before dropping the night cap 4-0 in a tight battle with Brigham Young.
The Bengals needed the eight-run inning as they trailed at the time 2-1. Cristin Martin allowed an unearned run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, and Kandis Clesson in relief allowed one in the third, but the fourth erased all of that. The inning saw the first nine batters reach, including back-to-back leadoff triples by Merissa Jannsen and Brittany Olsin. In all, the Bengals picked up six hits in the inning and benefitted from three Fighting Sioux errors in producing their second eight-run inning of the season. The Bengals tacked on their 10th run of the game in the fifth on a run-scoring triple by Megan Miller.
In game two, Clesson was great, allowing just four runs, three earned on eight hits, but Cristine Zananti was better, allowing just four hits in the shutout. Idaho State's best chance came in the top of the third in a still scoreless game, when Whitney Chaffe walked and Caitlin McGrath reached on an error with one out. After a flyout, Miller reached to load the bases for cleanup hitter Jessica Baca, but she grounded out to short to end the threat.
Brigham Young broke through in the fourth and fifth with a pair of runs each, and that would be all they would need, although ISU had their chances, leaving 10 on base.
The Bengals, now 10-15, have equaled the most wins for the program since it returned in 2007, when that team went 10-32. ISU will take on Utah Valley in a doubleheader in Orem tomorrow at noon.
NOTES:: Caitlin McGrath extended her hitting streak to 12 games before going 0-for-4 against BYU, meaning she is tied with Megan Miller's 12-gamer for the longest i school history ... Clesson's eight wins are the most by an ISU pitcher since the resumption of the program in 2007.
