OGDEN, Utah – A five-run fourth inning powered Idaho State to an 8-5 win over Weber State on Saturday afternoon, securing a crucial Big Sky series victory on the road. With the win, the Bengals improved to 28-13 overall and 8-1 in conference play, asserting their dominance atop the Big Sky standings.
The Bengals wasted no time getting on the board. Ava Brown drove in the game's first run in the opening inning with a two-out RBI double that plated Gracie Smith, who reached on a single. Weber State quickly responded with a run of their own in the bottom half, tying the game 1-1.
After falling behind 2-1 in the second following a passed ball, Idaho State swung the momentum in the third. Smith led off with a bunt single, and Alyssa Yee followed with a towering two-run home run to right field, giving ISU a 3-2 edge, her 7th of the year. Yee now has 19 career homeruns, tied for 9th all-time in ISU history.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning. With one out, the Bengals loaded the bases after hits from Jenna Kearns and Belle Navarrete. Smith delivered again with a triple to center, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 6-2. Yee was hit by a pitch, and Brown followed with a sacrifice fly to center that brought in another run. Olivia Robison's single advanced Yee to third, who then scored on a heads-up baserunning play after a defensive miscue, making it 8-2.
Weber State attempted to rally in the fourth with a pair of runs on RBI groundouts and singles, trimming the deficit to 8-4. But Idaho State's bullpen held firm. Kasey Aguinaga entered in relief and delivered three innings of two-hit ball, allowing just one earned run while picking up her 13th win of the season.
Smith finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a triple, while Yee added two RBIs and a homer. Robison collected two hits in the designated hitter role, and Dudley, Navarrete, and Brown each added RBIs to round out a balanced offensive effort.
The win secured Idaho State's second Big Sky series victory in as many weeks and keeps the Bengals in prime position entering the final stretch of the regular season.
- Gracie Smith emerged as the catalyst at the top of the lineup, batting .364 (4-for-11) with 4 runs, 6 total bases, 2 RBIs, a triple. Her fourth-inning triple in Game 3 broke the game open and helped seal the series.
- Alyssa Yee batted .364 (4-for-11), belted a home run, scored 3 runs, and drove in 2 RBIs. She was also hit by a pitch twice and recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
- Jenna Kearns hit .333 (3-for-9) and led the team with a .778 slugging percentage, contributing 1 double and 1 home run while driving in 3 runs. Her homerun in game two sealed the win and series for the Bengals.
- Kennedy Dudley added three hits and 2 RBIs, batting .333 across the series and handling all 27 of her fielding chances cleanly at first base.
- Olivia Robison was a consistent presence in the middle of the order, batting .300 (3-for-10) with a home run and 4 total bases.
- Ava Brown drove in 2 runs and scored twice, providing key moments including a sacrifice fly and a game-opening RBI single in Game 1.
Pitching Dominance
- Kasey Aguinaga was instrumental, appearing in two games and earning two wins. Over 10 innings, she allowed just 1 earned run, struck out 2, and held opponents to a .211 batting average.
- Lizzy Tommasini delivered a complete-game win in Game 1 and finished the series with a 2.10 ERA over 10 innings, striking out 4 while walking just one.
- Riley Wickum contributed in relief, pitching an inning in Game 3 despite allowing 2 earned runs.
Team Statistics
- Batting Average: .259 (21-for-81)
- Slugging Percentage: .432
- On-Base Percentage: .340
- Runs Scored: 14
- Extra-Base Hits: 8 (4 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs)
- RBIs: 13
- Stolen Bases: 2-for-2
- Fielding Percentage: .968 (3 errors in 95 chances)
- Double Plays Turned: 2
Pitching Staff Totals
- ERA: 2.00 (21.0 innings, 6 earned runs)
- Strikeouts: 6
- Walks Allowed: 4
- Opponent Batting Average: .277
Defensive Consistency
The Bengals were nearly flawless in the field, committing just 3 errors over the three-game stretch and turning a pair of double plays. Kearns handled 7 total chances behind the plate and threw out both steal attempts for a perfect caught-stealing percentage (2-for-2).
On Deck
The Bengals are back home next week hosting the Montana Griz, before the series though, the Bengals head to Orem, Utah for a single game with Utah Valley University on Tuesday.
