POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team earned its first shut out of the season by beating Purdue 3-0 on Sunday morning and then a late seventh inning rally fell short in the second game of the day, losing 2-1 to UC Riverside.
The Bengals had 10 hits on the day.
Emma Bordenkecher had two with two RBIs.
Frankie Tago and
Makenzie VanSickle each had two hits.
Mariah Mulcahy earned the win over Purdue. She pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits and striking out five while walking one.
Ashlyn Ames took the loss against UC Riverside. She pitched six innings, striking out seven, allowing only five hits and walking four.
"We competed this weekend and we gave ourselves great opportunities," Idaho State coach
Candi Letts said. "The game vs. UCR was a heartbreaker and we will continue to improve."
Against Purdue, the game was scoreless through three innings. Idaho State then scored a run in the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead. The inning started with a single by
Haley Harrison and she later advanced to second and third on two wild pitches. After a ground out by Ames, Bordenkecher brought home Harrison on a sacrifice fly.
ISU then scored two runs in the sixth inning to take the 3-0 lead. With one out VanSickle doubled to right-center and then with two outs Ames walked and Bordenkecher singled home VanSickle.
Kelsey Breer then reached on an error that allowed Ames to score for the second run of the inning.
Idaho State had five hits from five different Bengals. Bordenkecher had two RBIs.
Against UC Riverside, the game was scoreless through four innings. Idaho State jumped on the board with a run in the fifth inning.
Shayna Dahlen led off with a walk and then
Frankie Tago doubled to left-center.
Aubrey Creekmore then singled home Dahlen for the Bengals only run of the game.
UCR scored two runs in the sixth inning to take the 2-1 lead. The Bengals had a chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh.
Cassidy FitzGerald led off with a walk and then
Kelsey Breer reached on a UCR fielding error. UC Riverside then struck out the next two Bengal batters and caught a Bengal runner stealing to end the game.
Idaho State plays at UVU on March 21 and then plays Utah State on the 21
st in Orem as well. The Bengals then host Montana in a three-game series on March 24-25 at Miller Ranch Stadium.
