March 6, 2009
Northwest Nazarene Box Score
College of Idaho Box Score
Boise, ID --- Idaho State softball split a pair of games in the first day of the State of Idaho Tournament, as they defeated Northwest Nazarene 3-2 before dropping the nightcap 8-0 to the College of Idaho as errors and a shortened bench did ISU in.
In the opener, the Bengals got a superb performance from Kandis Clesson, who allowed just two runs and two hits in the game, with just one earned. Still ISU had to comeback from a 2-0 deficit, and it was timely hitting that got the job done. Down 2-0 in the fifth, Jessica Baca cranked a run scoring double to left to make it 2-1, although she was eventually cut down trying to get to third on the throw home. ISU tied the game up later in the inning when Kaylie Neal-Jones, making her first start of the year, tied the game up on a single up the middle.
ISU then took the lead in the sixth when Jennifer Martensen, who was doubtful all week with an illness, came off the bench to drive in Emily Hu with a base hit, the eventual winning run. Clesson took a one-hitter into the seven, and although she allowed a lead-off single in the frame, she wiggled out of it to give ISU the win.
In the second game against the College of Idaho, ISU's poor defense did them in, as Clesson allowed eight runs, but just two were earned due to three errors on ISU. One of those errors was by catcher Brittany Olsin, who was catching due to the absence of regular catcher Whitney Chaffe, who is in Arizona for a graduate school interview. The one miscue aside, Olsin was solid behind the dish, even throwing out a runner stealing in the first game.
ISU's shortened bench saw some lineup shuffling, with Casey Plowman earning her first career start at first base, Merissa Jannsen doing the same at third, along with Olsin.
Emily Hu was the only Bengal to record a multi-hi game on the day, going 2-for-3 in the opener, although Neal-Jones reached all three times in that game on a single and a pair of walks.
ISU plays Northwest Nazarene and Boise State tomorrow at noon and at 2:00 pm in the second day of the State of Idaho Tournament.
