Game 1
Game 2
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team dropped the final two games of a four-game series at Northern Colorado on Sunday afternoon, losing 9-5 and 8-4 in nine innings. ISU is 6-23 and 0-4 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play.
“Starting 0-4 in conference play was not what we prepared for,” Idaho State coach
Julie Wright said. “Our only bright spots were
Brittany Olsin and
Ashley Moeller. Olsin was superb on defense both in the outfield and behind the plate. Ashley came in and gave an outstanding performance on both sides of the ball today.”
Moeller was a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI in the nine inning loss while Olsin had a two-RBI triple to go along with her solid defensive play.
Desirae Hoffman had four hits on the day while
Amanda Fitzsimmons also had three hits. ISU combined for 19 hits on the day, eight coming in the first game and 11 in the nine inning loss. The Northern Colorado offense combined for 27 hits in the two games.
“Our pitching staff must make changes in location and aggressiveness,” Wright said. “We just aren't finishing hitter. Offensively, we need to take the swings we work on in practice to the game. We simply must play better.”
In the first game, ISU fell behind 5-0 after three innings. The Bengals scored their four runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Terah Blackwell smacked a two-run homerun and Olsin also had two RBIs. But whenever Idaho State scored its runs Northern Colorado always answered to extend the lead.
In the final game of the four-game series, ISU led 3-0 after four innings. ISU jumped on the scoreboard first in the third inning thanks to an RBI single by
Christina Rayner. Then in the fourth,
Katee Wiley plated a run with an RBI double and Moeller followed with an RBI triple.
Northern Colorado scored two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to lead 4-3 but in the bottom of the seventh, Idaho State tied the game at four after Blackwell singled home Moeller, who led the inning off with a single.
In the ninth inning, Idaho State committed two errors that resulted in the Bears four runs.
Idaho State now prepares for its home opener this weekend at Cappel Park in Chubbuck when it plays host to Portland State on April 16-17 in doubleheaders that start at 12 p.m.
www.isubengals.com
