Bombs Away: Bengal Bats Bury Aggies

LOGAN, Utah – A first inning home run was the perfect foreshadowing for the rest of the game as the Idaho State softball team hammered Utah State 13-3 Wednesday afternoon at Johnson Field in Cache County.

Vicky Galasso connected on her 11th home run of the season off USU starter Noelle Johnson as the Bengals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead that would grow quickly.

"It was a very business-like game for us," Head Coach Julie Wright said. "Don't get me wrong there was a lot of energy but we went in there knowing we were going to take care of business and we did."

ISU would chase the Aggie hurler from the game in the very next frame as four batters reached base without an out highlighted by a long ball from Dara Kolar that would make the score 5-0 and end Johnson's day.

The Bengal offense continued to roll against the USU bullpen putting a four-spot on the board once again in the top of the third and fourth innings highlighted by the teams' third home run of the game by first baseman Maddy Hickman.

"When we got pitches we could hit, we hit them and hit them hard," Wright said. "It helps to win no matter when it comes. We gave one away at Montana and I think we did a good job of responding today."

Every player in the starting lineup reached base safely at least once led by a career-high tying four RBI from Katelyn Marquez and a season-high in hits from Hickman (3-4, HR, 3 RBI).

"Traditionally she is a slow starter," Wright said of Hickman who came into the game hitting just .202. "It is really hard to keep good hitters from hitting and she's a really good hitter. What she does well is not let her mind take over. She knows I believe in her and she came out and showed today what she is capable of."

Marquez, Galasso, Hailey Breakwell and Micheala Taylor added multiple hits for ISU. The 13 runs is the second highest total of the year (16-0 vs Mississippi Valley).

"When the whole team starts to click like that it feels really good," Wright said.

Sophie Slagle (7-6) picked up the win for ISU tossing five innings and allowing just three hits while striking out two.

"She is developing well," Wright said of Slagle. "The one thing she has been working on is limiting the amount of pitches she is throwing and the walks. When she gets that done she is really good. When she is working ahead and in a good rhythm she is very difficult to hit."

The Bengals (17-13, 2-1 BSC) return to Big Sky play on Friday when they travel to Cedar City to take on Southern Utah in a three-game series.  The two teams will play a double-header March 27 with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and then a single game on Saturday March 28 with the same start time.

The T-Birds defeated the Bengals in the conference championship game last season.