POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengal softball team went 1-1 on day one of the UTEP invitational in El Paso, Texas Thursday afternoon.
The Bengals started the day with a 9-4 season opening win over the miners and followed it up with a 5-2 loss to finish up the day.
Game One | Idaho State 9 – UTEP 4
The Idaho State Bengals opened the 2022 season with a strong 9-4 win over the University of Texas – El Paso Thursday afternoon.
The Bengals wasted no time at the start of the game as Senior Rheanne lewis advanced to second on a UTEP wild pitch. Mailee Newman recorded the first RBI of the season for the Bengals as she singled to right field brining in Lewis and giving the Bengals a 1-0 lead.
The next at bat, Frankie Tago came up to the plate and hit her first double of the season brining home Newman and giving the Bengals a 2-0 advantage heading into the second inning.
Both teams were held scoreless in the 2nd with Haley Rainey giving up one hit and one K.
The Bengals turned on the gas in the 3rd. It Started with F. Tago singling to center field, she was followed by Isabella Hanson singling to left.
With two runners on, ISU freshman Piper Tago stepped up to the plate and blasted her first career home run over the left field wall. Not only was it her first career home run but P. Tago was able to be welcomed home to the plate by her older sister F. Tago. In the bottom of the 3rd, UTEP was able to cut the lead to 5-2 but the Bengal defense held strong at the end of the inning with runners on base and got out with the lead.
The Orange and Black continued its momentum into the 4th. Lewis reached on a fielders choice and was then brought home by another Newman single to center field. At the middle of the 4th the Bengals held a 6-2 lead.
Stepping back into the circle in the bottom of the 4th, Rainey didn't let the Miners gain any momentum. Facing three UTEP Batters the Bengal defense retired all three and the teams headed to the 5th.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Miners were able to cut the lead to 6-4 with two consecutive home runs, the Bengals didn't blink though and fought through the rest of the inning to retire the side and move on to the sixth.
With the pressure mounting, the Bengals came out swinging in the sixth. Cano Singled to center and Newman followed it up with a double down the left field line. With runners on, F. Tago hit her second double of the game and brought home two runs, making the score 8-4.
The Bengals weren't done though, Isabella Hanson singed to right field and Brooklyne Esquibel came in to pinch run. Esquibel immediately turned around and stole second, the first steal for the Bengals in 2022. Morgan Hess drove in Tago from third base and the Bengals took at 9-4 lead into the final 1 ½ innings.
As they did earlier in the game, the Bengals defense held through the last six UTEP outs and Idaho State picked up its first win of the season, 9-4 over UTEP.
Newman and F. Tago both went three-of-four with five RBIs between the pair.
P. Tago had three RBIs with an HR and Hess had one.
In the circle, Rainey pitched 127 over seven innings giving up eight hits, four runs and four walks with eight strike outs.
The Bengals are back on the diamond at 5:00 PM today for game two of the doubleheader.
Game 2 | ISU 2 – UTEP 5
In game 2, the Bengals led 2-0 after the top of the fifth inning but in the bottom half of the inning the Miners took advantage of four Bengal errors to score five runs.
Idaho State out hit UTEP 7-3. Rheanne Lewis was 3-4 with one run scored. Angelica Cano was 1-3 with the team's two RBIs.
Mareena Ramirez pitched five innings and allowed five runs, three hits and struck out three.
Looking Ahead
The Bengals continue the UTEP Invitational tomorrow as they face off against Abilene Christian and Creighton. Game one is set for tomorrow at 10:00 AM MT.
