Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- To start the 2013 season the Idaho State softball team had a goal of making the conference tournament. But after taking two of three from Portland State, those goals changed.
“After we took two out of three from Portland State I put a note in each players locker saying forget the tournament you can win the whole thing,” Idaho State coach
Julie Wright said.
After sweeping the series on Saturday vs. North Dakota with a six-inning 11-2 win, the Bengals are now all alone in first place with a 12-3 record and a 26-19 overall mark. ISU has a one-game lead over Portland State who is 11-4.
“I told the team in pregame this is the biggest game of our season,” Wright said on Saturday's win. “A team like this is scary. In the two conference series that they have played they have lost the first two and won the third.”
The Bengals pounded out 13 hits in the game, led by
Terah Blackwell's 3-4 day with three runs scored.
Maddy Hickman was 2-3 with three RBI and three runs scored with a home run.
Hailey Breakwell was 2-4 with two runs scored, had four RBI and she ended the game in the sixth inning with a grand slam.
Amanda Fitzsimmons,
Becky Molyneaux and
Katelyn Marquez also had two hits.
Bailey Foster earned the win and improved to 5-4 on the season by pitching five innings, allowing only two hits, one run, one walk and striking out two.
Haley Douglas tossed the final inning and allowed one hit and one run.
“For them to start rolling the way they are going into a huge conference series at Sacramento State and a big game on Wednesday with Utah Valley, because that is a really good team, I am so pleased,” Wright said on her pitching staff. “All of our starters are doing a tremendous job.”
North Dakota and Idaho State were tied at one through 3.5 innings.
“When you win a game the way we won the second game yesterday there is a tendency to think you can roll through someone,” Wright said. “North Dakota plays with a lot of heart. I was reminding our team that we have to stay focused one pitch at a time.”
In the bottom of fourth the Bengals scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Marquez.
Hickman had a two-run home run in the fifth to put ISU on top 7-1. North Dakota scored a run in the top of the sixth before the Bengals came back and ended the game with Breakwell's grand slam.
“That is what championship caliber team do,” Wright said. “That is the path we are on and I am pleased with the execution.”
Prior to the start of Saturday's game, senior, Molyneaux, Fitzsimmons and
Christina Rayner were honored.
Idaho State plays its final home game of 2013 with a 4 p.m. contest on Wednesday, May 1, vs. Utah Valley University.
We Are Your Bengals
