April 10, 2010
Box Score
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Complete Release in PDF Format
Seattle, WA --- Idaho State's conference opening weekend did not start as planned, as Seattle used a grand slam as part of a 10-run opening inning to win game one 13-3, and then scored five in the sixth inning to spoil a four home run outburst by the Bengals in game two as Seattle swept the weekend opening twinbill 11-9 in the nightcap.
The wins put Seattle at 6-22-1 on the season, but 2-0 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference's Mountain Division, tied with Portland State, who swept Northern Colorado 1-0 and 4-0. Idaho State dropped to 6-23 overall and 0-2. Utah Valley went 3-1 over Weber State for third place, and WSU is currently in fourth at 1-3.
In game one, Sandra Hernandez hit a first inning grand slam and a fourth inning three-run shot for a 7 RBI day as the Redhawks won 13-3. The Redhawks scored 10 in the opening inning, with Hernandez's grand slam out of the #9 slot in the batting order making it 8-0. Jessica Ulrich also added a two-run home run after that for a 10-0 lead.
ISU did get three back in the top of the second when Erin Olander doubled and scored on a single by Jennifer Martensen to start things off. Jessica Baca, who singled prior to Martensen, scored on an error, and Baca scored on a single by Taylor Marchione, but that ended ISU's offense in game one. Kandis Clesson, who allowed the 10 runs in the opening inning, allowed a three-run homer to Hernandez that gave Seattle a 13-3 lead, and the game ended with that score after five innings.
Game two started out the opposite way, as ISU's first four hitters reached as Marchione walked and Desirae Hoffman, Megan Miller, and Olander all singled to make it 2-0, and Jessica Baca cleared the bases with her third home run of the year, making it 5-0. Seattle got three back in the first on just one hit as they used a pair of walks, a hit batter, two balks and a wild pitch to score three runs and make it 5-3.
The Bengals pushed the lead to 9-3 with the long ball. In the second, Miller and Olander went back-to-back to make it 7-3, and in the third Terah Blackwell hit her first career home run to make it 9-3 as she drove in Martensen, but ISU couldn't hold that 9-3 lead.
Seattle got three back off of Maschue in the fourth, without the benefit of a hit. After an opening out, Maschue walked both Hernandez and Hannah Klein. After an out, Jessica Amadore walked to load the bases, and Marchione couldn't handle a Katie Antich grounder for an error that made it 9-4. Maschue then walked Rose Harrington and Ulrich with the bases loaded to make it 9-6, giving way to Clesson, who got out of the inning when left fielder Emily Hu made a superb diving catch to save at least two runs.
In the sixth, ISU couldn't hold the 9-6 lead. Amadore walked to start the inning, and after a strikeout, Seattle laoded the bases before Theresa Clark singled and moved to second on the throw home to make it 9-8. Then Erin Olander couldn't handle a tough grounder, allowing two runs to cross, making it 10-9. Seattle tacked an 11th run on a fielder's choice, and ISU went 1-2-3 in the seventh.
For ISU, Olander, Baca, and Hoffman all had three hits, with Olander and Baca both driving in three as well. Clesson was credited with both losses, throwing 6.2 innings in the two games, allowing 14 hits and 18 runs, 13 earned. Maschue allowed three earned in 3.2 innings and just one hit. ISU pitchers allowed 15 walks on the day.
The two teams will continue their four-game series on Sunday at 11:30 am Mountain Time.
NOTES: Hoffman ran her hitting streak to 10 games, Taylor Marchione bumped hers to nine, and Olander is now at seven straight ... Marchione hit a double in game two, her ninth of the season, one away from Martensen's record, set last year ... ISU and Seattle are now tied 3-3 all-time against each other ... on Sunday ISU will bat last and be the home team for both games ... Sunday's doubleheader will be tweeted live on ISU's Twitter page @ISUBengals.
