POCATELLO, Idaho- It's a sweep. The Idaho State softball team beat Sacramento State 7-2 on Saturday afternoon to take control of first place in the Big Sky Conference. ISU now has a three-game lead on Sac State and at least a two-game lead on Weber State going into the final two weeks of the regular season.
"We took care of business and had fun doing it," Idaho State coach
Julie Wright said. "This was a big series and I thought we handled it well. We stayed focused and played well."
Idaho State was in control from the start of the game, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. ISU put up three runs in the first inning thanks to a
Hailey Breakwell three-run homer and added two more runs in the second inning.
"We kept putting pressure on them on the base paths," Wright said. "We did what we always do offensively."
The Bengals had nine hits, led by a 3-4 afternoon from
Kacie Burnett. Burnett had a home run, two RBIs and scored three runs.
Ashlyn Ames was 2-3 with one RBI. Six different Bengals had hits on the afternoon.
Sophie Slagle pitched the first 3.1 innings, allowed six hits, two runs while walking one and striking out one.
Bailey Foster picked up the win by pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing only three hits.
"
Bailey Foster was tremendous in relief," Wright said. "The role she played for us in today's win was huge."
The scoring started with Burnett reaching base on a bunt in the first inning. Then with one out,
Vicky Galasso walked and Breakwell followed with a three-run homer to left field.
In the second inning,
Sarah Hayes singled with one-out and Burnett singled her home with a single up the middle. Galasso had an RBI single later inning that scored Burnett.
After the Hornets scored two runs in the third, Burnett homered to right field to up the Bengal lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning. The lead increased to 7-2 in the seventh when Ames had a two-out RBI single that scored
Micheala Taylor. Â
Taylor has been a player that is owning her position as the starter at second base.
"Kansas (Taylor) is playing so well on defense right now," Wright said. "Our entire defense is playing well. I can't praise our defense enough."
Idaho State hosts Utah Valley on Tuesday, April 21 at 4 p.m. The Bengals then play a three-game series at Northern Colorado April 24-25.
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