Box vs. Colorado State | Box vs. Northern Iowa
LAS VEGAS – Idaho State softball dropped two contests to open the 2017 season with a 5-2 loss to Colorado State and a 4-2 loss to Northern Iowa Friday afternoon at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas.
Colorado State 5, Idaho State 2
In the first game of the day, senior
Kacie Burnett led the way for the Bengals with two hits and one run on three at-bats, while freshman
Emma Bordenkecher finished with one hit, one run and one RBI in three at-bats in her first career game.
The first two innings were scoreless for both Idaho State (0-2) and Colorado State (3-3), but the Rams opened up the scoring in the third with a three-run inning. The Bengals responded in the fourth as Burnett got on base following a double to right center field. Sophomore
Aubrey Creekmore stepped up to bat next and grounded out to second, but Burnett was able to advance to third. Bordenkecher stepped up to the plate and delivered a big hit to right field for a double as Burnett ran home for ISU's first score.
Later in the inning, Bordenkecher advanced to third on a wild pitch to put ISU in a position to score. Freshman
Kelsey Breer then singled to left field to give Bordenkecher the go-ahead score. By the end of the fourth, ISU cut CSU's lead to one, 3-2.
The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless for both ISU and CSU, but two Rams runs in the top of the seventh put ISU down by three, 5-2. The Bengals struggled to get on base in the bottom of the seventh with two outs in its first two at-bats. Junior Hayley Harrison got on base for the Bengals after a single to center field, but a line drive from senior
Sarah Hayes was collected by the pitcher to force ISU's third out, giving Colorado State the 5-2 win.
Northern Iowa 4, Idaho State 2
In the second game of the day, junior
Ashlyn Ames led the way with two RBIs in one at-bat, while Hayes finished with two hits and two runs in two at-bats. Senior
Alex Portesi also finished with two hits, while Harrison finished with one hit.
ISU earned its first run in the opening inning beginning with a single from Hayes to second. Portesi followed it up with a single to put Hayes on second; Hayes stole third and Portesi stole second on the ensuing play, setting the Bengals up for the score. Burnett was at-bat next for Idaho State and walked, loading the bases. Ames was up to bat next for the Bengals and connected, hitting to UNI's shortstop who threw to second for an out and first for the double play. Hayes scored on the play to give ISU the 1-0 lead, and ISU headed into the second inning with a 1-0 advantage.
Both teams were scoreless in the second, but the Bengals scored their second and final run in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Northern Iowa (5-2) scored two runs in the fourth inning, one following an ISU error. Another two run inning from UNI in the fifth put the Panthers up 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. ISU went scoreless in the final two innings to give UNI the 4-2 win.
Idaho State returns to action Saturday, Feb. 18 against Texas State at 11 a.m. MST.
