Softball Splits Final Day in CSU Classic

vs. CSU PDF Box Score | vs, KSU PDF Box Score

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team took down the Colorado State Rams in a 4-1 contest before falling to Kennesaw State in five innings, 10-2, in Fort Collins, Colo.

ISU combined for 12 hits in the two games led by Hess with four. Angelica Cano homered in each game. Emma Bordenkecher and Shayna Dahlen pieced together two hits while Mailee Newman and Kaylee Butterworth each singled.

"Our bats have made a ton of progress and found a groove," said Head Coach Cristal Brown. "Our defense has gotten more solid and is avoiding big innings. Feels good to be putting things together."

ISU 4 CSU 1
The Bengals scored four runs on seven hits led by Hess and Dahlen each with two. Cano homered for two RBIs while Bordenkecher and  Newman each singled for a base hit. 

CSU took a 1-0 lead that lasted until the top of the sixth when the Bengals went ahead 2-1.
 
Hess started the sixth with a single to third. Cano smashed a two-run homerun to left field that gave ISU the go ahead run.
 
In the top of the seventh, the game was halted due to darkness. The Bengals didn't let it slow them down the next morning as they put up another two runs on three base hits. Kelsea Sweeney shut the Rams down in a one-two-three inning to end the game.
 
Sweeney earns the victory, giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out two.

KSU 10 ISU 2
Hess was 2-3 in the game to lead ISU. Cano was 1-2 with a homerun. Bordenkecher and Butterworth each singled in the game.

The Owls went up 4-0 after two base hits, a walk, and two doubles to start the first inning. Newman came in for the save as she shut down Kennesaw's momentum.
 
Cano homered in the second to put the Bengals on the board, 4-1. The homerun was her second of the weekend.
 
A KSU two-run homerun extended their lead, 6-1, in the bottom of the second. They followed with another homerun in the third to push the lead to 7-1.
 
Butterworth reached first on a base hit single to center field in the top of the fourth. A stolen base and a wild pitch moved her to third, allowing her to score on a KSU throwing error to cut the lead to 7-2.
 
Kennesaw scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning after three Bengal errors. They scored their final run in the fifth to earn a run-rule over ISU, 10-2.

Sweeney earns the loss after giving up four earned runs off of four hits. Newman pitched three innings, giving up five runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two. Kiara Grover finished the game pitching one inning while giving up one run on three hits.

The Bengals play their final preseason tournament next weekend, March 13-15, in the Loyola Marymount Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif.