Iowa Box Score
Illinois State Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- Despite losing two games to open the 2011 season, coach Julie Wright believes her team understands what they need to do to improve to continue to get better. The Bengals opened the 2011 season losing to Iowa, 11-3 in five innings and 10-1 to Illinois State in five innings.
“In each game I thought we played three innings of good softball,” ISU coach Julie Wright said. “For the most part we were ok defensively. The biggest improvement we have to make is in the circle.”
Brittny Olsin and Jessica Baca led the team offensively in the two games, going 3-for-6. Baca had one double and Olsin scored two runs on the day.
“Olsin did what we thought she would do and Baca had great at bats,” Wright said.
The ISU pitching staff allowed 21 hits in the two games.
Iowa 11 Idaho State 3 (5)
The Idaho State softball team hung with Iowa for nearly three innings as the Bengals led 3-2 after the top of the third inning but the Hawkeyes scored one run in the fourth and six in the fifth to beat ISU 11-3 on Friday morning in the season opener.
The Bengals scored their three runs on three hits and was able to take advantage of five Iowa errors to get their runs. Olsin, Baca and Terah Blackwell all had hits for the Bengals.
Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Idaho State then countered with a run of its own in the top of the second thanks to three Iowa errors in the inning. The inning started with Baca reaching base on an Iowa error and she later advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Blackwell and a throwing error by Iowa. Baca was then moved to third on a passed ball and scored on another Iowa miscue.
After Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the second, Desirae Hoffman started the top of the third with a one-out walk. Olsin and Baca then hit back-to-back singles to put runners on second and third with one out. Blackwell followed with her 2-RBI double to give ISU the 3-2 lead.
Iowa then scored two runs in the bottom of the third, one in the fourth and six in the fifth inning to earn the victory.
Kandis Clesson took the loss as she allowed eight hits, six runs and four walks in four innings of work.
Illinois State 10 Idaho State 1 (5)
The Bengals fell behind early in their second game of the day as Illinois State scored all 10 of its runs in the first three innings. ISU scored its run in the top of the third when Courtney Dial platted Olsin.
Olsin and Baca each went 2-for-3 while Christina Rayner was 1-for-1 in her only at bat. Idaho State had five hits for the game but committed three errors.
Christina Rayner suffered the loss as she pitched two innings, allowing seven runs, six hits while striking out two.
Idaho State returns to the diamond at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to play Seattle in the Littlewood Classic at Arizona State. The Bengals then play host school Arizona State at 5 p.m.
www.isubengals.com
