Bengals Knock off Utah State, 6-1

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah- After a disappointing last weekend, dropping four games at Northern Colorado, the Idaho State softball team bounced back in a big way, beating Utah State 6-1 on Wednesday afternoon. Idaho State improved to 7-23 while Utah State dropped to 7-34. ISU is now 2-0 against the Aggies this year, beating USU 10-2 in five innings in early March.

“I felt like for the first time we overcame adversity,” Idaho State coach Julie Wright said. “It showed me some mental toughness. We swung the bat well and played defense.”

The Bengals scored their six runs on eight hits. Brittany Olsin went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a two-run homerun while Christina Rayner was 2-for-3. Desirae Hoffman recorded her first homerun of the season with a three-run shot.

Kandis Clesson picked up the win tossing a seven-inning complete game, scattering six hits, striking out one and walking three. Clesson now shares the program's all-time win record with Tammy Sorensen, at 36 wins. Sorensen played for ISU from 1979-82.

“For her to bounce back after last weekend is what we needed,” Wright said. “For a fifth year senior she provided great leadership and made the pitches she had too. That is a sign of a great pitcher.”

After giving up a leadoff homerun in the first inning, ISU took a 2-1 lead after the third inning. Ashley Moeller led off the top of the third with a single and one batter Olsin knocked a homerun off the scoreboard in right field to take the lead.

The lead extended to 6-1 in the top of the sixth inning. With one out Amanda Fitzsimmons was hit by a pitch and Courtney Dial followed with a single to right field.

Courtney Hancock then stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and smacked a single to center field and advanced to second on a miscue by the USU, allowing Fitzsimmons to score.

“That was the best at bat of the game,” Wright said on Hancock. “It changed the momentum of the game. She filled her role perfectly. That was the most needed at bat of the game.”

With two outs, Hoffman smacked her three-run homerun over right field to give ISU the 6-1 lead.

“Desirae is really swinging the bat with confidence,” Wright said.

Idaho State returns to the field on Saturday at 12 p.m. in its home opener against Pacific Coast Softball Conference foe Portland State. Home games this year will be played at Capell Park in Chubbuck.