POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals (12-7) opened up the 2024 CBU Lancers Invite with a split of day one taking down Cal Poly 5-4 and dropping a game against CBU 1-0.
Postgame Remarks
Head Coach
Andrew Rich remarked on the Bengals' day-one performance
After Game One,
"We got two great pinch hit at bats from freshmen to give Gracie the opportunity for a huge swing to get a big-time win in game 1 today. To see those three grind out at-bats with 2 outs down a couple runs was a big deal for our team."
On Game two,
"Marley threw an awesome game against CBU. They executed when they needed to and we didn't and that was the difference in that second game tonight. I am looking forward to seeing how we bounce back on Sunday."
How it Happened
Game 1 ISU 5 – Cal Poly 4
The Bengals opened the 2024 CBU Lancers Invite with fireworks Friday afternoon.
The Game opened with Cal Poly taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning as the Bengals got their feet underneath them in their first game this week.
The next two innings saw the two teams battle back and forth, with neither program able to build any offensive momentum. The Bengal defense continued to step up, in the top of the third, Cal Poly started the inning with a lead-off double, ISU didn't flinch as the runner advanced to third on a sac bunt, forcing two consecutive putouts to hold off any scoring by the Mustangs.
The Bengals came out in the bottom of the third with runs on the brain. The inning started with a
Gracie Smith Single to right center. She was immediately followed by
Alyssa Yee, who laid down a bunt and turned on the jets, beating the throw to first for a bunt single.
Ava Brown then came up to the plate and laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved the Bengals on the base path. With runners on second and third and one out,
Angelica Cano came up to bat. On her first pitched faced, Cano hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Smith, Yee then crossed home plate as a throwing error by the right fielder gave her the opening.
The inning ended and the Bengals held a 2-1 lead over the Mustangs.
Taylor Fitzgerald and the Bengal defense then got back to work, going three up three down in the fourth.
In the fifth, Cal Poly was able to get two on base, but the Bengal defense held strong and had putouts from short and third to end the inning.
In the top of the 6
th, Cal Poly was able to tie the game at 2-2 and after three-straight lineouts by the Bengals, the two teams went into the final inning tied.
In the top of the 7
th,
Lizzy Tommasini came into to pitch in relief for the Bengals. Cal Ploy was able to take advantage of a fielding error and passed ball to score two runs and put the Bengals on the ropes headed to the bottom of the 7
th down 4-2.
In a do or die bottom of the seventh, the Bengals showed what they are made of.
After two quick outs, it didn't look good for the Bengals. Facing this adversity Bengal freshman
Belle Navarrete stepped up to the plate and on a full count, smashed a single to center keeping the Bengals hopes alive.
Then came up to the plate. The Bengal, facing an 0-2 count, turned on a ball and singled down the left field line. The Bengals had two runners on with two outs and hot bat
Gracie Smith coming up to bat.
After a first pitch ball, Gracie read the Cal Poly pitcher like an open book and absolutely hammered a ball over the center field wall, scoring three runs and earning the 5-4 walk-off victory for the Bengals.
Game 2 ISU 0 – CBU 1
Game two was a true pitchers battle with
Marley Goluskin leading the Bengals in a defensive battle that lasted all seven innings in Riverside, Calif.
Over six innings pitched, Goluskin allowed one run on five hits from CBU.
Goluskin and the Bengal defense didn't allow a hit until the third inning in the battle with the Lancers. With a runner on, the Bengal defense didn't blink taking care of a SAC Bunt, then a fly out to short and a groundout to third.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lancers would score the only run of the game, after a leadoff double, CBU took advantage of two sacrifice batters to come home and take the 1-0 lead.
The Bengals had more chances as the night went on with
Alyssa Yee and
Ava Brown reaching the next inning, but the Bengals were unable to continue the offensive production in the 6
th and the Lancers held onto the slim lead.
ISU was unable to breach the gap in the top of the seventh and the Lancers took the win over the Orange and Black.
Notes-
- The Bengal's 5-4 win over Cal Poly is the 2nd 7+ inning walk-off win of the season, the first coming against Lafayette College at the Whataburger Invitational
- The Bengals have now played three games with CBU this season. All three games have been decided by one run ( W 4-3, W 3-2, L 1-0)
- Gracie Smith led the Bengals offensively day one, hitting .571 with four hits including a double and a home run. Alyssa Yee also hit .500 going three-for-six on the day.
- The Bengals held opponents to a .245 batting average in the two games.
- Gracie Smith, Ava Brown and Alyssa Yee are now all tied for team leader in home runs with three each.
- Taylor Fitzgerald is now 5-1 on the season pitching for the Bengals and is holding a 1.61 ERA.
On Deck
The Bengals have a day off before concluding the tournament on Sunday with back-to-back games against Cal Poly and St. John's
