LAS VEGAS – Idaho State softball dropped two Sunday with losses to UNLV and Hawaii at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas as part of the UNLV Tournament. The Bengals battled the Rebels for seven innings before falling 1-0, and ISU was unable to comeback from a 5-0 deficit against Hawai'i and fell 5-1.
VS. UNLV
In the first game of the day, Idaho State (0-4) finished with four hits in 24 at-bats and held UNLV (7-2) to just a single score in the second inning and three hits for the entire game.
In the top of the second, the Bengals had the bases loaded after
Emma Bordenkecher singled,
Kelsey Breer reached first on a UNLV error and
Makenzie VanSickle walked. Senior
Sarah Hayes stepped to the plate and connected, but the Rebels fielded effectively to force ISU's third out.
The Rebels' lone score came in the second inning after an ISU error put UNLV's Bueno on base. Two back-to-back singles loaded the bases for the Rebels, and the Rebels' Kremmer stepped up and grounded out for the RBI and score.
Idaho State would record two more hits, one in the third as
Ashlyn Ames singled and another in the fifth as
Alex Portesi connected for a single to second base, but neither would lead to a score. UNLV held on for the 1-0 win.
VS HAWAI'I
In the second game of the day, Idaho State finished with four hits in 26 at-bats, 21 put-outs and nine assists. Portesi led the Bengals with one hit, three put-outs and three assists, while
Jennie Murillo finished with six put-outs and one assist. But the Rainbow Wahine proved too much for the Bengals, recording 11 hits on 32 at-bats with five runs and four RBIs.
The Bengals held Hawai'i (4-3) scoreless in the first inning. With runners at 1st and 3rd, UH hit a fly ball to right field that
Haley Harrison collected for ISU's third out. In the bottom of the first, ISU recorded two hits but was unable to get a score.
The Rainbow Wahine went off in the top of the second with four runs on four hits.
Harley Wells ended the inning with a strikeout, her second of the day. Neither team scored in the third inning, but both recorded a run in the fourth as Hawai'i homered and Idaho State was able to score on a passed ball. The Bengals were unable to get a hit in the final three innings and fell to UH 5-1.
Idaho State is back in action Friday, Feb. 24 as it travels to Fresno, California as part of the Fresno State Tournament. The Bengals kick off the tournament against UC Davis at 10 a.m.
