Bengals Split DH vs. UVU in Home Opener

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POCATELLO, Idaho- After 18 games on the road, the Idaho State softball team played its home opener on Thursday afternoon at Miller Ranch Stadium against Utah Valley University. The Bengals split a double header against the Wolverines, losing game 1, 6-2 and winning game 2, 6-3.

The Bengals had 19 hits on the day, with 11 coming in the game 2 win. Ashlyn Ames had six of the seven RBIs by the team and Sarah Hayes was 5-8 in the two games to lead the ISU offense. Haley Harrison was 4-7 with an RBI and three runs scored and Kacie Burnett was 2-5 with two runs scored.

Mariah Mulcahy earned the game 2 win in the circle, pitching the complete game while scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking five.

"She wasn't rushing and she was hitting her locations," Idaho State coach Candi Letts said. "She got quality pitches and depended on her defense."

Ames took the loss against UVU in the first game. She pitched five innings, gave up 11 hits and struck out two.

"We were Jekyll and Hyde today," Letts said. "We did not come out ready with the energy to perform in the first game. In response, we came out in the second game with more energy. We did a good job and Mariah did a good job on the mound. We got behind but we came back with our bats. We responded well. Ashlyn hit her first home run of the year. Kacie had another good day. Aubrey (Creekmore) hit the ball hard but it was right at everybody. She probably had the best bats of the day."

In game 1, UVU led 5-1 after the top of the third inning. Ames had her second RBI of the day on a single to right field in the bottom of the third to cut the UVU deficit to 5-2 but the Bengals gave up a run in the fourth and committed five errors in the field.

In the second game, Idaho State fell behind 2-0 after the first inning before settling in and scoring three runs in the third and three in the fourth inning. Hayes was 3-4 and scored a run while Harrison was 3-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in the game 2 victory.

ISU's scoring started when Hayes led off with a single to left field and Harrison followed with a single up the middle. Burnett then reached on a fielder's choice and Ames then hit her first home run of the season over the left-center fence.

"Ashlyn is a threat at the plate," Letts said. "Anytime she puts a bat in her hands she is a game changer."

The Wolverines had a run in the top of the fourth but the Bengals countered with another three-run inning to put the game away. Makenzie VanSickle reached base on an infield one-out bunt and Hayes followed with a single to left-center. Harrison singled home VanSickle and Hayes would later score on a UVU error. Ames had a sacrifice fly later in the inning for the final run of the game.

Idaho State opens conference play Saturday at 1 p.m. with a double header vs. Portland State at Miller Ranch Stadium.
 
Notes
- Kacie Burnett is now ISU's all-time leader for runs scored with 195.

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