POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State softball split day one of the 2022 Big Sky Softball Tournament in Ogden, Utah Tuesday afternoon.
The Bengals started the day with a 7-2 win over the University of Northern Colorado and ended the day with a 10-0 loss to top-seed Weber State.
The tournament is a double-elimination format and the Bengals will now play Portland State Wednesday, May 12 at Noon in an elimination game.
Game One | ISU 7 – UNC 2
The Bengals took down the UNC Bears in the opening game of the 2022 Big Sky Conference Championship tournament.
After two scoreless innings, Rheanne Lewis hit a solo home run that rocketed over the wall to put the Bengals up 1-0 early in the 3rd.
Heading into the fourth, Frankie Tago reached on a hit, then, stepping up to the plate, Mailee Newman rocked a two-run blast over the outfield wall to give the Bengals a 3-0 lead.
The Bengals continued to press the advantage and after getting runners on two and three Brook Richards hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home Gracie Smith and put the Bengal up 4-0
In the top of the sixth, Mailee Newman led off with a single to right field. Kaylee Butterworth then came in to pinch run.
Morgan Hess stepped up to the plate and hit a perfect ball into shallow left field. The UNC outfielder misplayed the ball and Butterworth got a chance to show her speed. Rounding the bases Butterworth turned on the jets and flew into home before the UNC defense could react, scoring from first base and putting the Bengals up 5-1.
Not done yet, in the seventh Rheanne Lewis advanced to third on a sac bunt by Skyler Sethman and then scored on a throwing error by the UNC 2nd base.
Angelica Cano came up to bat and showing her strength, hammered a shot down the right field line for the Bengals' 10th triple of the 2022 season.
Frankie Tago game up to bat and brought Cano home with an RBI single to left field.
In the Bottom of the seventh, Haley Rainey and the Bengal defense took care of business with Rainey striking out two of the bears and the defense getting the third putout to end the game.
Rainey had a complete game win in the circle for the Orange and Black. In seven innings she struck out nine Bear batters and only allowed two runs.
Newman led the team in RBIs with two and Hess led in hits for the game with three.
This was the first Big Sky Tournament win for the Bengals since the 2017 season where that team made it to the championship game before falling to Weber State.
Game 2 | ISU 0 – WSU 10
The Bengals fell to the Weber State Wildcats 10-0 in five innings.
The Wildcats took control early and didn't let go scoring seven runs in the first two innings. They would go onto score another three runs in the third and hold on through five to pick up the win.
Lewis had three hits in three at bats to lead the Bengals in the game. Newman tacked on two and Sethman the sixth hit for the Orange and Black. This was Lewis' eight game this season with three or more hits.
On Deck
The Bengals continue the Big Sky Conference tournament tomorrow at Noon in an elimination game with Portland State.
Follow along on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the team and to see in game results and highlights.
