POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State softball team split its two games against the University of Utah Wednesday afternoon. Game one ended after six innings 14-5 and in game two the Utes just edged out the Bengals 7-6.
"Glad we competed hard today," said Head Coach Cristal Brown. "Gelly saw the ball well today and put great hacks on it."
Angelica Cano had a truly dominant day against the Utes. The Bengal shortstop went four of six with three homeruns and four RBIs. Cano finished the day hitting .833 percent with a slugging percentage of 2.500 percent and a .857 on base percent.
Frankie Tago also had a huge offensive performance for the Orange and Black hitting .667 percent with a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .714 on back percentage. In game two against Utah Tago also hit her first career triple.
The Bengals had 20 hits between the two games and have now had double-digit hits in four of their last five matchups.
Game One Utah 14 – ISU 5
Cano led the Bengals in their 14-5 loss to the University of Utah Wednesday afternoon.
Cano got the Bengals on the board in the second inning with a one-run homerun over the left center wall to bring the game to ISU 1 – Utah 2.
Frankie Tago led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle. Emma Bordenkecher reached on a fielder's choice and was then advanced to third on a Mailee Newman single up the left line.
Cano got her second RBI of the game when she hit a single into left field and brought Bordenkecher home to make the game 6-2 in favor of the Utes.
The Bengals had an explosion of offense in the top of the fifth. Morgan Hess led off ISU with a double to left-center. Rheanne Lewis responded with a double of her own bringing home Hess. Not to be left out Tago, in the next at bat, brought home Lewis for the second consecutive Bengal RBI. At the end of the inning, the Bengals had cut the Utah lead to 7-4.
Cano showed she had the Utah pitching staff's number in the top of the sixth, hitting her second homerun of the game for her third RBI of the game. Cano had an RBI against all three Utah pitchers she faced in game one.
In the Bottom of the sixth, Utah was able to pull away and earn a six-inning run rule 14-5 victory.
For the third time in the last four games the Bengals had double-digit hits with 10 against the Utes.
In six innings pitched, Emma McMurray allowed 16 hits and struck out three Ute batters.
Game Two Utah 7 - ISU 6
The Bengals wasted no time in game two to come out swinging. After Bordenkecher and Cano got on base, Newman came up to bat and hit a rocket into left field brining in two RBIs and giving the Bengals a 2-0 lead after one.
After a five-run third inning by the Utes the Bengals didn't give up.
Bordenkecher drove in a run in the top of the 5th to make it 3-5 Utes and Cano came up to bat once again.
Cano's third homerun of the day left no doubt as it sailed over the outfield wall and the Bengals had the game tied up 5-5.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Utes scored two runs to take a 7-5 lead.
The Bengals headed into the top of the seventh ready to keep fighting. The Bengals loaded the bases after Utah walked Cano rather than pitch to the superhot Bengal batter.
The Bengals got within one after Utah walked in a run but were unable to secure the final run needed to tie the game and it ended with a 7-6 Utah victory.
