POCATELLO, Idaho – After a long offseason, the defending regular season Big Sky Champion Idaho State softball team returns to the diamond. The Bengals are set for a week of softball games on the west coast to open the 2024 season.
First, the Bengals play a single game against San Diego February 8 at 5:00 PM MT
The Field – LaJolla Invitational
After the USD game, the Bengals head to the LaJolla Invitational to take on a field of California Baptist, UC San Diego and Fairleigh Dickinson.
Idaho State
California Baptist
UC San Diego
Fairleigh Dickinson
How to Follow
ISU vs USD | Feb. 8 | 5:00 PM MT
Watch
Live Stats
LaJolla Invitational – Note, only the games against UCSD will have an ESPN+ Broadcast
Game 1 ISU vs CBU | Feb. 9 | 2:30 PM MT
Live Stats
Game 2 ISU vs UCSD | Feb. 9 | 8:00 PM MT
Live Stats
Watch
Game 3 ISU vs CBU | Feb. 10 | 12:00 PM MT
Live Stats
Game 4 ISU vs FDU | Feb. 10 | 2:30 PM MT
Live stats
Game 5 ISU vs UCSD | Feb. 11 | 11:00 AM MT
Live Stats
Watch
Preseason Picks
The Bengals were selected as the conference favorites in the 2024 Big Sky preseason coaches' poll. Idaho State, the defending regular-season champions return 15 team members to this year's squad, including six all-conference honorees and Big Sky freshman of the year Ava Brown and Big Sky Coach of the year Andrew Rich.
The voting breakdown was as follows.
1: Idaho State (3) – 23
2: Northern Colorado (2) – 22
3: Sacramento State (1) – 17
4: Portland State – 14
5: Weber State – 9
6: Montana – 5
Strong Veterans, Fresh Faces
The Bengals return 15 from last year's Big Sky Conference Championship team.
Ava Brown, Emma McMurray, Kate Hogan, Gracie Smith, Angelica Cano, Madison Muxen, Kenedy Dudley, Skyler Sethman, Megan Weiss, Rylee Peters, Paige Simpson, Olivia Robison, Alyssa Yee, Jillian Martinez and Piper Tago all return for the Orange and Black.
Ava Brown earned 1st team all-conference honors in 2023 and was named Big Sky freshman of the year.
Olivia Robison, Angelica Cano, and Alyssa Yee were all named 2nd team All-Big Sky\
Skyler Sethman, Paige Simpson and Kennedy Dudley all earned honorable mentions in 2023 rounding out the veterans.
New to the Bengals this season are; Camryn McDonald, Lizzy Tommasini, Marley Goluskin, Jenna Kearns, Belle Navarrete, Taylor Fitzgerald, Jaden Moore, Skylar Williams, and Riley Wickum.
Head Coach Andrew Rich hit the transfer portal to bring in talent to the Bengals program
Taylor Fitzgerald comes to the Bengals as a Graduate Student from UC Davis
Jaden Moore is a utility from the University of Houston
And Riley Wickum joins the bullpen coming to the Bengals from CSUN.
On Deck
After returning from California, the Bengals next head to the Lone Star State to take on the Whataburger Invitational hosted by Tarleton University Feb. 16-18
