Bengals Beat Buffalo 3-2 in 8; Drop 5-3 Decision to Pacific

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team beat Buffalo 3-2 in eight innings and lost to Pacific 5-3 on day 3 of the Titan Classic at Cal State Fullerton.
Idaho State combined for 14 hits in the two games and was led by Haley Harrison going 4-8 and scoring two runs. Shayna Dahlen, Cassidy FitzGerald and Emma Bordenkecher all had two hits and eight different Bengals had hits on the day.

Autumn Pease pitched eight innings, allowed five hits, struck out seven, while allowing two walks and two runs in the win over Buffalo. Mariah Mulcahy took the loss against Pacific. She went five innings, allowed eight hits, four runs, (three earned) and struck out three. Kelsea Sweeney pitched the final two innings against Pacific.

"It was good to get a win today after coming off a tough loss to Pacific," Idaho State coach Candi Letts said. "Our pitchers are throwing well enough to keep the games close so we will keep on working to be more effective with runners in scoring position but overall a good effort on the third day of the tournament."  

Against Buffalo, Idaho State had eight hits and the game was scoreless through seven innings.

Buffalo scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Bengals rallied in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to earn the victory.

With Amber Arreola on second base, she later scored on a sacrifice fly by Makenzie Van Sickle. Later in the inning with Creekmore and Harrison on base, Frankie Tago smacked a game-winning two-RBI walk off single to center field to give Idaho State the win.

Harrison and FitzGerald had two hits to lead the offensive attack. Pease improved to 2-0 on the season with the complete game victory.

In the first game of the day, Pacific scored its five runs on 10 hits and committed two errors. The Bengals scored their three runs on six hits while committing two errors.

Harrison was 2-4 and scored one run. Dahlen was 2-3 and added another run. Bordenkecher and Courtney Wiley each had one hit.  

Mulcahy took the loss, pitching five innings, allowing eight hits, four runs (three earned) two walks and three strikeouts.  Kelsea Sweeney pitched the final two innings and allowed two hits, one run and struck out two.

Both teams scored in the first inning. Pacific struck first with two runs in the top half of the inning and the Bengals came back in the bottom half with a run. With one out, Harrison singled to left and Bordenkecher drove her in on a double to right-center.

Idaho State tied the game at two in the bottom of the second when Dahlen doubled to left-center. She was later driven in on a two-out double by Courtney Wiley. 

The Bengals took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning by taking advantage of two Tiger errors. Pacific then scored two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh inning to earn the win.

The Bengals conclude play at the Titan Classic on Sunday at 10 a.m. vs. Northwestern.