POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals continued their hot start to the 2024 season defeated UC San Diego twice in a doubleheader Friday evening.
The Bengals move to 3-0 on the season with three games to play on the current road trip.
Postgame Remarks
"Great all-around team effort today," remarked Head Coach Andrew Rich. "Still would like to see us clean some things up defensively, but our offense and pitching staff were fantastic in both games. Really liked our 2-out offensive output. That really helped us extend leads and put both games away."
How it Happened
Game 1 ISU 5 – UCSD 0
For the second game in a row, the Idaho State Bengals put together a 5-0 shutout victory over their opponent. The match was highlighted by Bengal freshman Marley Goluskin's impressive performance in the circle.
The game started with a defensive test for the Bengals. UCSD started the game advancing runners to second and third with no outs and a true freshman in the circle.
Instead of collapsing, the Bengals took a breath and got to work. Goluskin forced the next two batters into infield putouts and capped the inning with an emphatic swinging strikeout
After a scoreless second, the Bengals broke things open in the third.
Paige Simpson put on the jets and singled with an infield bunt, then, Gracie Smith singled to right field and Simpson advanced to third. Ava Brown then stepped up to the plate and hit her second home run in two games, scoring three runs and opening it up for the Bengals.
The two teams went back and forth for another inning. Brown singled to right field and after advancing on a wild pitch was brought home by an Alyssa Yee single down the right side, extending the Bengals' lead to 4-0.
Yee came back in the sixth, putting the game away with another RBI single closing out the scoring with the 5-0 Bengals lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Lizzy Tommasini came in for Goluskin to close out the game. Tommasini fanned two UCSD batters and forced a groundout to 3b to secure the Bengals second-consecutive win.
Goluskin picks up the win to go 1-0 on the season. The Bengal freshman dazzled with 6IP, 2H, 1BB, 0R
Game 2 ISU 11 – UCSD
Coming off of the win, the Tritons hit the ground running, scoring in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Bengals immediately responded, Kate Hogan hit a double to center and Kennedy Dudley scored her first RBI of the year with a single to left, tying the game at 1-1.
Again, UCSD retook the lead and the two teams went into the third with a 2-1 UCSD lead.
Facing down the triton pitcher, Gracie Smith stepped up and hit her first career home run, tying the game at 2-2 for the Bengals.
After the Bengal defense held the Tritons off in the bottom of the inning, the Orange and Black saw their opportunity to pounce.
After two Bengals reached in the top of the fourth, Paige Simpson hit the 2nd triple of the season, giving the Bengals a 4-2 lead and the rout was on.
Gracie Smith then stepped up to the plate again hammering a single up the middle scoring another RBI.
Ava Brown then did what she has done best over the first three games of the season, slamming a two RBI home run to give the Bengals a 7-2 lead.
The next inning, Pocatello native, Jenna Kearns hit her first career home run to extend the lead to 8-2.
With runners on, the Bengals hit two more consecutive singles extending the lead to 10-2.
Finally, the Tritons had an error allowing Jaden Moore to reach and score another run, putting the scoreboard at 11-2. The Bengal defense then stepped up once again getting two ground outs capped by a swinging strikeout forced by Riley Wickum to win the game.
In her debut for the Bengals, Riley Wickum had a strong game in the circle, allowing just two runs on two hits with one walk, fanning three batters. Wikum improves to 1-0 on the year pitching.
Notes-
· Ava Brown has now hit three home runs in three games for the Bengals. Over the doubleheader Brown hit .500 with three hits, five RBI's, nine total bases and a 1.500 slg percentage.
· The Bengals as a team hit .356 in the doubleheader while holding the Tritons to .119. In two games the Bengals had 21 hits, 15 RBIs, and a .610 SLG percentage.
· The Bengal pitchers only allowed fice total hits and one extra base hit, a double. In the two games the Bengals had a 1.50 ERA and fanned seven batters in the two games.
· Gracie Smith and Jenna Kearns both hit their first career home runs in the doubleheader wins.
On Deck
The LaJolla Invitational continues Saturday afternoon as the Bengals take on the California Baptist Lancers in a double header.
