Softball Battles No. 6 UCLA Tough Before Falling in Six Innings

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team went toe-to-toe with No. 6 UCLA in the season-opener on Thursday evening at Easton Stadium on the campus of UCLA. ISU led 3-1 after the top of the third inning and only trailed 4-3 after five. The Bruins blew the game open in the sixth inning with nine runs to earn the 13-3 six-inning win.

"We played a great game through five innings," Idaho State coach Julie Wright said. "Unfortunately the game is seven innings. We didn't compete the way I wanted them too in the sixth."

The Bengals scored their three runs on six hits with four of the hits being multiple base hits. Vicky Galasso was two-for-four with two RBIs and a double. Kacie Burnett was one-for-two with a double. She also walked twice. Micheala Taylor doubled and Katelyn Marquez had the first hit of the season for the Bengals, a triple in the second inning.

Sophie Slagle took the loss as she went five innings, allowed 10 hits, eight runs, seven earned and struck out two while walking seven.

"Sophie Slagle did an outstanding job tonight," Wright said. "Sophie really kept us in the game and I thought Vicky (Galasso) called a great game. The battery worked really well together."

After UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Bengals countered with three runs in the top of the third inning. Burnett started the offensive attack with a lead-off double and Taylor followed with a walk.

Galasso then took advantage of a Bruin miscue on a dropped foul ball and smacked a two-run double to left field to give ISU a 2-1 lead. The Bengals took a 3-1 lead later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Hailey Breakwell.

"I wasn't suprised that we took the lead," Wright said. "We are competitors and we are good offensively."

The Bengals left nine batters on base while UCLA left 10.

"When you play great teams you have to capitalize more," Wright said.

UCLA scored one run in the bottom of the third inning and two in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Neither team scored in the fifth. After a scoreless top of the sixth inning for ISU, the Bruins scored nine runs in the bottom half of the inning to earn the victory.

Idaho State continues its play in the Southern California Classic with a 2:30 p.m. (MDT) contest against San Diego State and a 7:30 p.m. game at Cal State Fullerton. Both games will be played at Fullerton.

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