OGDEN, Utah — Idaho State delivered a pair of clutch performances on Friday to sweep the opening day of its Big Sky rivalry series at Weber State, winning 4-2 in game one and following it up with a 2-1 win in game two.
Postgame remarks
Trailing 1-0 through five innings, the Bengals' bats came alive in the top of the sixth. Ava Brown led off with her third walk of the game and advanced on a single by Kennedy Dudley. Camryn McDonald tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center, and after a walk to Jaden Moore, Jenna Kearns stepped in and smashed a two-run double to the gap in center field, giving ISU a 3-1 lead. Brown added insurance in the seventh with an RBI triple that scored Alyssa Yee, who had reached on an infield single.
Lizzy Tommasini earned her seventh win of the season with a complete game, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out four. The Bengals played sharp defense and stranded seven Wildcat runners across seven innings.
Offensively, six different Bengals recorded a hit. McDonald and Kearns both notched doubles, while Brown's triple added a key spark late. ISU also showed patience at the plate, drawing five walks against Weber starter Cali McCraw.
Game 2 | ISU 2 - WSU 1
Jenna Kearns came through once again in a tense, low-scoring battle, launching a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the seventh to lift Idaho State to a 2-1 win and secure the Friday sweep of Weber State.
Kearns, who delivered a two-RBI double in game one, broke a 1-1 tie with a first-pitch blast to left field to open the seventh inning. It was her third home run of the season and proved to be the difference as the Bengals improved to 7-1 in Big Sky Conference play.
The Bengals had tied the game in the fourth inning when Olivia Robison doubled to the gap and was brought home by a clean RBI single from Dudley. Alyssa Yee continued her hot hitting with a 2-for-4 performance and a stolen base, while Gracie Smith added her second hit of the day.
In the circle, Kasey Aguinaga was in control all game, scattering six hits and issuing just two walks over a complete-game effort. She didn't allow an earned run and worked out of multiple jams, stranding seven Wildcats on base—including a bases-loaded threat in the fifth.
With the sweep, Idaho State improved to 27-13 overall and will look for a statement finish in the series finale on Saturday.
Day one in Ogden
Offensively, Kennedy Dudley led the Bengals with a .400 average, going 2-for-5 across the doubleheader with an RBI and a hit-by-pitch. Alyssa Yee continued to be a reliable presence at the top of the order, batting .375 (3-for-8) with a stolen base and a run scored.
Jenna Kearns made her hits count, batting .333 with three RBIs, including a game-winning home run in game two and a two-run double that broke open game one. Gracie Smith also tallied a pair of hits and drew a walk to post a .375 on-base percentage.
From the circle, Idaho State's pitching duo was dominant. Kasey Aguinaga tossed a complete game in the second contest, allowing no earned runs over seven innings and earning her 12th win of the season. Lizzy Tommasini went the distance in game one, surrendering just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Defensively, ISU was nearly flawless with a .966 team fielding percentage. Seven players—including Dudley, McDonald, Smith, and Kearns—recorded perfect fielding marks. Camryn McDonald and the infield turned a pair of critical plays, including a momentum-shifting double play in game two.
On Deck
Idaho State has one more against the Weber State Wildcats tomorrow in Ogden. First pitch is set for 12:00 and will be broadcast on ESPN+
