Bengals Drop DH to SUU

 
POCATELLO, Idaho-The Idaho State softball team dropped a doubleheader to Southern Utah in the Bengals home and Big Sky Conference opener on Friday afternoon at Miller Ranch Stadium, losing 14-7 in nine innings in game 1 and 2-0 in game 2.

Despite falling behind early in game 1, ISU rallied to take a 7-5 lead after five innings but the T-Birds scored two runs in the sixth to tie the game and then had a  seven run ninth inning to earn the win. In game 2, all the runs SUU needed were a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

"We had a great opportunity to win the first game if we just played our basic ball game," Idaho State coach Candi Letts said. "When you can shut them down in the top half of the inning when going into extra innings you have to be able to step up and say ok I am getting on. We have to figure a way to win the game and not let it go extra innings. When you have runners in scoring position we have to seal the deal."

Ashlyn Ames led the Idaho State offense by going 5-7 with a homer and four RBIs. Alex Portesi had three hits and Maddy Hickman had two hits, one being a homer. Katelyn Marquez and Kacie Burnett each had two hits. The Bengals combined for 16 hits on the day.

Sophie Slagle took the loss in game 1. She pitched 8.1 innings, allowed 11 hits, walked two and struck out seven.

Ames took the loss in game 2, allowing six hits, one walk and four strike outs.  

"Ashlyn pitched well enough to win," Letts said. "We just didn't do anything offensively to help her."

The Bengals fell behind 4-0 in the first inning of game 1. ISU tallied its first run when Hickman hit her homer over the left-center fence to lead off the bottom of the second. The Bengals added another run in the fourth on a sacrifice RBI by Dara Kolar that scored Portesi, who led off with a single to left field.

Southern Utah scored a run in the top of the fifth to lead 5-2 but the Bengals countered with a five run inning in the bottom half of the fifth. Micheala Taylor walked and Marquez followed with an infield single. Burnett then doubled to left field for the first run. After a Hickman walk to load the bases, Ames hit a grand slam over the center field fence.

The Bengals had opportunities to score runs in the remaining innings but were unable to manufacture runs and the T-Birds scored seven runs in the top of the ninth.

"We have to have timely hits," Letts said. "It is all about the opportunity to seize the moment. We didn't do that and they took advantage of it. They hit the ball well."

Ames was 3-5 with four RBI and Portesi was 3-5. SUU scored its 14 runs on 14 hits while ISU had 11 hits.

In game 2, ISU was held to five hits while SUU finished with six. Ames was 2-2 with a walk.

The series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. with a single game. There will be an Easter Egg hunt following the game.