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POCATELLO, Idaho- A strong pitching performance by
Autumn Pease and
Mariah Mulcahy propelled the Idaho State softball team to a 3-1 victory over UTEP on Friday morning at the UC Davis Aggie Invitational in Davis, Calif. Later in the day the Bengals fell to Saint Mary's 7-3.
"We played a very good game vs. UTEP," Idaho State coach
Candi Letts said. "Our pitchers kept them off balance and we had timely hitting. We didn't compete as well as we needed to against Saint Mary's. We made too many mental mistakes to keep the game close."
Pease earned the win against the Miners, pitching five innings, allowing four hits, one run, walking three and striking out nine. Mulcahy earned the save. She allowed only one hit in the final two innings.
Idaho State had three hits.
Emma Bordenkecher hit a solo-home run to left field in the first inning. In the second inning ISU extended its lead to 3-0 with a two run inning.
Shayna Dahlen led off with a walk and
Danni Ryan singled to left. After a sacrifice bunt by
Jayden DeMoss,
Courtney Wiley smacked a two-RBI single down the right field line.
UTEP scored its run in the fourth inning.
Against Saint Mary's the Bengals scored three runs on seven hits and committed three errors while Saint Mary's had 10 hits and two errors. Bordenkecher was 2-3 with two RBIs and five other Bengals had hits.
Kelsea Sweeney took the loss as she pitched four innings, allowing eight hits. Only two of the seven runs allowed were earned. Mulcahy pitched the final three innings and allowed two hits.
ISU led 2-0 after three innings. The Bengals scored a run in the first inning thanks to a sacrifice by Bordenkecher. Bordenkecher's sacrifice scored
Aubrey Creekmore, who reached base on a Saint Mary's error.
In the third inning,
MaKenzie Van Sickle doubled to right-center with one out and she later scored on a two-out single to right by Bordenkecher. Â
Saint Mary's scored all seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. In the inning, SMC had four hits and took advantage of three Bengal errors in the inning.
ISU added another run in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by
Amber Arreola that scored
Cassidy FitzGerald, who reached base on a double to left-center.
The Bengals continue play at UC Davis on Saturday, with a 2:15 p.m. game vs. UC Davis and a 4:15 p.m. game vs. Saint Mary's. The tournament concludes at 10 a.m. on Feb. 24 against Seattle U.
