POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team split the second-day of the Oregon Invitational on Saturday, beating Hofstra 2-0 before falling to No. 4 Oregon 9-0 in five innings.
Kacie Burnett had a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with one run scored.
Alex Portesi was also 2-for-5 on the day with an RBI.
Harley Wells earned the win over Hofstra, pitching a complete game striking three, walking three and scattering seven hits.
Ashlyn Ames took the loss against Oregon. She went 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs, five walks and striking out four.
Against Hofstra, the game was scoreless through three innings. In the fourth inning ISU scored its two runs on one hit and took advantage of two Hofstra miscues in the field.
"We played a good game vs. Hofstra," Idaho State coach
Candi Letts said. "We got a solid pitching performance from
Harley Wells and great hitting from
Kacie Burnett."
Burnett started the inning by being hit by a pitch. Ames then reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second after an error in the field. Portesi then singled to center field, allowing Burnett to score. Ames later scored in the inning on another error in the field by Hofstra.
Emma Bordenkecher and
Aubrey Creekmore each had a hit in the game.
In the loss to Oregon, the Bengals were held to two hits and committed three errors. Oregon scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third. The Ducks added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away.
"We didn't get the bats going vs. Oregon and their ace pitcher," Letts said. "We made some defensive miscues and you can't do that vs. a Top 5 team and expect a win. We need to learn from the little things as we prepare for conference play."
In the four games at the Oregon Invitational Burnett was 10-12 with one run, two doubles and five RBIs. She boasted a 1.000 slugging percentage and an on base percentage of .846.
Idaho State returns to the field March 23 with its home opener vs. Utah Valley at Miller Ranch Stadium.
