Utah State Box Score
Arizona Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- After a disappointing end to the first day of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational where the Bengals lost 8-0 to Portland State in five innings, the Idaho State softball team got together to discuss some changes that needed to be made for a better day two and rest of the season.
The things that were talked about in that meeting were taken to heart as Idaho State came out Saturday and beat Utah State 10-2 in five innings and then took No. 4 Arizona down to the wire before falling 5-3.
“After last night we talked as a team that we wanted to slow the game down, attack the ball and try to win each inning," Idaho State coach Julie Wright said. "That was our big focus. We made some changes in our pregame and we came out more aggressively and with a lot of energy. That really helped us."
Idaho State got solid pitching, defense and offensive production, allowing ISU to have success. As a team, the Bengals combined to hit .320 while committing only one error and pitcher Kandis Clesson pitched both games, striking out 12.
Amanda Fitzsimmons was 3-for-6 on the day with two runs and one RBI while Christina Rayner was 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and Terah Blackwell had three RBIs on the day.
“Defensively we played much better,” Wright said. “We stayed aggressive, communicated and had quality at bats. They gave a great effort today and I was really impressed.”
Overall on the day Wright said, “Kandis pitched well all day. (Jessica) Baca took some hits but she played tough and did well. I was pleased with those two seniors.”
Idaho State 10 Utah State 2 (5 Innings)
An eight run bottom of the fifth inning gave Idaho State a 10-2 five inning win over Utah State in the second day of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
The Bengals smacked 11 hits and was led by Brittany Olsin's 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run. Jessica Baca was 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs and two runs. Fitzsimmons had a homerun for ISU.
The Bengals had eight different players' record hits and RBIs. Clesson picked up the win as she allowed six hits, struck out five and walked only three batters.
"Kandis continues to pitch well," Wright said. "We just have to continue to back her up defensively."
Idaho State led 2-0 after the third inning. In the first inning, ISU loaded the bases with one out and a walk to Blackwell scored Desirae Hoffman. Then in the third with two outs, Baca singled and later scored when Christina Rayner singled her home.
Utah State tied the game at two in the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom half of the inning the flood gates opened with eight runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Fitzsimmons led off inning with a home run to right field. Olsin followed with a single and Baca walked. Blackwell then singled up the middle scoring Olsin to give ISU a 4-2 lead. Katee Wiley and Ashley Moeller then singled and walked home runs to up the score to 6-2. A single to right field by Clesson scored Rayner to up the lead to 7-2. The game ended when Baca had a two-RBI single that scored Hoffman and Clesson.
"We didn't try and do too much," Wright said on her team's eight run inning. "We just tried to put the ball in center field. I was real pleased with our approach."
No. 4 Arizona 5 Idaho State 3
Idaho State jumped on the fourth ranked team in the country early with a three run first inning. The Bengals loaded the bases in the first inning and scored all three runs thanks to Blackwell walking with the bases loaded, an RBI single by Rayner and an infield single RBI by Ashley Moeller.
Fitzsimmons was 2-for-2 with one run while Rayner was 1-for-3 and Moeller 1-for-2. Clesson pitched another solid game going six innings, scattering 10 hits, striking out seven while allowing four earned runs.
“I am proud of their effort,” Wright said. “Kandis threw a tremendous game. They had to put their ace in the seventh to stop us. We stayed aggressive and played to win it.”
Arizona took the lead in the bottom of the second with a four run innings and added another run in the bottom of the fourth.
The Bengals scored their three runs on five hits. |
Idaho State concludes the Wildcat Invitational with a game against Minnesota at 9 a.m.
www.isubengals.com
