Â
POCATELLO, Idaho- For the third straight year the Idaho State softball team can call themselves Big Sky champions. The Bengal softball team swept a doubleheader vs. North Dakota on Friday at Miller Ranch Stadium, winning two five inning games, 12-0 and 8-0.
"I don't want to say they assumed it but they were prepared to win," Idaho State coach
Julie Wright said. "They played like winners. At this point when you three-peat it is almost bitter-sweet because it is an expectation. It is still very special for the freshmen and for Sophie who has played a huge role in our success this season. It has been really exciting. I couldn't be more pleased for our team and our seniors."
The Bengals were in control all afternoon as the offense had 20 hits, 17 RBI and hit .455 on the day while the Bengal pitchers held North Dakota to only two hits and a .063 batting average.
Sophie Slagle earned the game 1 win, allowing one hit, one walk while striking out four in the shutout.
Ashlyn Ames allowed one hit and one walk with two strikeouts in the game 2 victory.
"They were tremendous today," Wright said.
Nine different Bengals had hits on the Sunny Friday afternoon.
Gabby Lopez led the way with a 5-6 afternoon with five RBIs, one double and three runs scored.
"That is what seniors do," Wright said. "They are going to play one way and really get after it. She is tremendous and she has had a great season."
The Bengals scored two runs in the first and second innings and one in the third to take a 5-0 lead. ISU then had a seven run inning in the bottom of the fourth to take a 12-0 lead. ISU scored its seven runs on five hits and took advantage of one UND error.
Slagle pitched a no-hitter through four innings and North Dakota had only three runners on base in game 1.
Ames had three hits and three RBIs while
Sarah Hayes,
Vicky Galasso,
Micheala Taylor,
Hailey Breakwell and
Kacie Burnett each had two hits.
The North Dakota pitchers walked ISU nine times with four players walking twice.
In game 2, ISU scored all eight runs in the first three innings. North Dakota's only hit of the game came in the fourth inning.
The series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. The four seniors of Galasso, Breakwell, Lopez and
Amanda Ellsworth will be honored before the start of the game at 12:35 p.m.
The Bengals will have the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ICCU Big Sky Conference tournament May 7-9. ISU will play the No. 4 seed at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 7 while the No. 2 and 3 seeds play at 4 p.m.
We Are Your Bengals
