GREELEY, Colo. – Idaho State softball was swept in its doubleheader against Northern Colorado Friday at Gloria Rodriguez Field. UNC (8-28, 3-4 BSC) topped ISU (14-19, 4-3 BSC) 4-3 in game 1 before collecting a 4-2 win in game 2.
"We did not play well today," said Head Coach
Candi Letts. "We left too many runners on base and made untimely errors. We will bounce back tomorrow."
The Bengals combined for 17 hits between the two games behind
Emma Bordenkecher's 5-8 performance. The right fielder tallied multiple singles, a double and a triple, collecting an RBI in the process.
Billie Jean Wells,
Haley Harrison and
Aubrey Creekmore all had three hits apiece. Creekmore also had a trio of RBIs and a home run.
Autumn Pease took the loss in game 1 after allowing four runs on six hits and striking out nine.
Kelsea Sweeney had the decision in game 2. The sophomore pitched well, allowing just four hits and limiting UNC to a .190 batting average. Although the Bears plated four runs, only one was earned.
Idaho State out-hit Northern Colorado 10-6 in game 1 and 7-4 in game 2, but UNC took advantage of ISU's mistakes and swiped eight bases to compensate. The Bengals were also hurt by stranding 15 runners, eight in game 1 and seven in game 2.
Game 1 Recap
Idaho State trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth before the heart of the lineup delivered. Harrison earned a walk and crossed the plate on Bordenkecher's triple the next at bat. Creekmore followed with a two-run blast over the left-field fence to put ISU on top 3-1.
However, one big inning for the Bengals was not enough to hold off a late rally by the Bears. Pease pitched a gem through five innings, allowing just one run on two hits, but was tagged for four hits and three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was the long ball that ultimately cost Idaho State the lead. Pease struck out two of the first three batters in the sixth while surrendering a double. She walked the next batter before Hailee Swanson cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run home run that lifted Northern Colorado to a 4-3 win to open the series.
Game 2 Recap
Northern Colorado took advantage of a defensive miscue in the first inning to earn an early advantage. The Bears returned to the plate and tallied a pair of runs the next inning to put the Bengals in a 3-0 hole.
Idaho State scored its first run of the game in the top of the fourth. Bordenkecher lined a leadoff double into left field and was brought in by Creekmore's single to center immediately after.
The Bengals trailed by three once again in the sixth before Wells and
Frankie Tago paired for back-to-back singles. Wells was able to cross the plate from first base on Tago's single to center field.
The two teams will meet again to wrap up the three-game series tomorrow at noon.
