Bengals Are Big Sky Conference Champions After 8-3 Win over North Dakota

Box Score  
POCATELLO, Idaho- It didn't come easy but the Idaho State softball team can call themselves Big Sky Conference champions for the second year in a row. The Bengals rallied past North Dakota with a six run sixth inning to earn the 8-3 victory on Saturday afternoon in Grand Forks. Idaho State is 32-18 and finished Big Sky Conference play 13-4.

"We won this championship the way we always do, battling from behind," Idaho State coach Julie Wright said. "This is a team full of fighters that never quits. This championship is a true team effort. All season long we have been building to this moment. We did it as a team."

With the win, Idaho State will host the Idaho Central Credit Union Big Sky Conference tournament May 8-10 at Miller Ranch Stadium.

"We are proud to host the tournament in front of our fans at Miller Ranch Stadium," Wright said.

A big reason for the win was the pitching of Jessica Tolmie in relief and the offense of Gabby Lopez in the sixth inning.  

Tolmie (7-3) earned the win by pitching the final 3.1 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four.

"Jessica Tolmie did exactly what we needed her to do," Wright said. "She was brilliant in relief."

Lopez stepped up in a pinch hit situation in the sixth inning and hit the game-tying two RBI triple that tied the game at three.

"Gabby had the biggest hit that we have had all season," Wright said. "She amazes me when she comes off the bench."

North Dakota held a 3-1 lead through five innings before ISU made its rally.  

"North Dakota played a great series," Wright said. "They made us work for every out, hit and run."

The six run sixth inning started with back-to-back singles by Hailey Breakwell and Terah Blackwell. With one out, Lopez tied the game at three with her two RBI triple. Micheala Taylor then gave ISU the lead for good on a single to left field that scored Lopez. 

Later in the inning with two outs, Kacie Burnett smacked a two-RBI double and she later scored when Vicky Galasso reached base on a North Dakota error.

Idaho State added one more run in the top of the seventh inning.

Idaho State scored its eight runs on 12 hits while North Dakota had seven hits and two errors. The Bengals did not commit an error.

"Defensively we played really well." Wright said.

Taylor and Maddy Hickman each had two hits. Burnett was one-for-four with two RBIs. Taylor had two RBIs along with Lopez. Ten different Bengals had hits in the game.

Idaho Central Credit Union 2014 Softball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 8
1 p.m. Idaho State vs. Northern Colorado
4 p.m. Sacramento State vs. Southern Utah

Friday, May 9
10 a.m. Winners of Thursday's games
1 p.m. Losers of Thursday's games
4 p.m. Loser of the 10 a.m. game vs. the winner of the 1 p.m. game

Saturday May 10
1 p.m. Championship game
4 p.m. If game
 
Tweet #GoISU