POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State softball wrapped up its 2025 season in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference tournament. While the Bengals fell in the final game of the tournament, 2025 is one for the record books. The 2025 Bengals put together one of the best seasons in Idaho State history, rewriting the record book and setting the expectation for the program moving into the future.
The Bengals' 37 wins in 2025 are the most ever for an Idaho State softball team and their conference winning percentage is also the best ever for the Orange and Black.
This will be a highlight of some of the accomplishments from the Bengals this amazing season.
Tournament Streaks
The Bengals set the tone early in the season in their first four non-conference tournaments. Idaho State completed all four with winning records. In the Utah Tech tournament, the Bengals went a perfect four-for-four in St. George.
First Ranked Win
On February 28, Idaho State opened the 2025 Texas A&M Invitational taking on the #13 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. Sophomore Lizzy Tommasini and the Bengal defense put on a clinic, holding the top-15 team to just two runs.
Down 2-1 in the sixth, needing a spark, Alyssa Yee provided one, smashing a triple to right field that set her up to tie the game on the next at bat off of an Ava Brown sac fly to tie the game up 2-2 in the sixth.
The Bengal defense again stepped up in the 7th, with runners on, the Bengals took care of the fielders choice out, Texas Tech tried to also send a runner home, but a dart to Jenna Kearns and a crafty tag secured the out at the plate and kept the game tied headed to the bottom of the inning.
Up to bat stepped Gracie Smith and on the first pitch of the bottom of the 7th, Smith smashed a Home Run over the right field wall, walking the game off and securing the first-ranked win in Idaho State Softball history.
Breaking in Direct Communications Field
At the Start of the year, the Bengals dedicated Direct Communications field at Miller Ranch stadium, a new state of the art turf field was installed for the field in cooperation with Direct Communications. The new turf allowed a much-improved playing surface and gives the Bengals the chance to play more games in the unpredictable Pocatello spring weather.
On March 8, Idaho State opened play on the new turf, hosting the inaugural Black and Orange Classic presented by Direct Communications. The Bengals welcomed four teams to Pocatello for the tournament. Utah, Washington, Boise State and Montana all came to Miller Ranch to play in the tournament. This marked the first time in Program history that Idaho State Softball hosted both a Big 12 team and a Big 10 team at home.
The Tournament was capped for the Bengals with a 5-3 win over Utah in their final game of the tournament. Freshman infielder Becca Quinn proved the hero, hitting her first career home run, a gran slam, over the left field wall to put the Bengals up over the Utes and secure the win.
A New Home Run Queen
Ava Brown made a name for herself in the 2025 season and secured a spot in the Idaho State and Big Sky record books. Ava Brown finished the 2025 season the new Idaho State and Big Sky Conference single-season home run queen, smashing 25 bombs during the year.
Brown set the tone from the start, in the Bengals' first game of the season against the Utah Valley Wolverines. Brown hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5 and continued to spur the Bengals' 11-6 comeback victory over the Wolverines.
Throughout the season, Brown continued to chip away at the record, averaging 0.46 home runs per game, 4th best in the NCAA as she chased the record.
On April 18, at home in front of the Bengal faithful, Brown tied the all-time record of 20 home runs, she joined Bengal legends Vicky Galasso and Kacie Burnett on top of the mountain, but with many games left, she wasn't done.
It only took her two more games. After wrapping up a regular-season championship victory on April 19, the Bengals went west to Boise State to take on the Broncos. Brown smashed a home run over right center, her 21st of the season and set herself apart as the lone single-season home run queen for Idaho State and the Big Sky Conference.
Brown would hit four more over the course of the season to end with an absolutely dominant 25 on the year.
Jenna Kearns National Player of the Week
The Bengals controlled their series with the Montana Grizzlies in 2025, winning all three games and securing a Big Sky Title in the process. Everyone on the team contributed to the wins, but Jenna Kears, Idaho State's sophomore catcher, led the way.
Against Montana on 4/18/2025, Kearns was absolutely on fire, smashing two monster homeruns and scoring 7 RBIs in a single game. The RBI mark tied the ISU and Big Sky record for single-game RBIs and Kearns became just one of eight players in Big Sky Softball history to hit the mark ever.
Kearns played tough all weekend and after winning the Big Sky Player of the Week award, Kearns' accolades weren't finished. On April 22, Jenna was named the Louisville Slugger / NFCA National Player of the week, just the 2nd Bengal ever to earn the award. Not stopping there, Kearns was also named to the NCAA DI Softball lineup of the week in the catcher position.
Weekly Award Record
The Idaho State Bengals cleaned up on weekly awards during the 2025 season. The Bengals earned a team-record 15 Big Sky weekly honors and one national honor during the season.
• 2/17/2025 - Alyssa Yee - Player of the Week | .563, 9 hits, 11 RBIS, 3 Doubles 2 Homeruns
• 2/17/2025 - Riley Wickum - Pitcher of the Week | 2-0, 8.2 IP, 2 hits, 0.81 ERA (First Ever)
• 2/24/2025 - Ava Brown - Player of the Week | .400, 6 RBIS, 3 Homeruns, 1.400 SLG%
• 03/03/2025 - Gracie Smith - Player of the Week | .333, 5 hits, 1 Walk off homerun against #13 Texas Tech
• 03/03/2025 - Kasey Aguinaga - Pitcher of the Week | 9.2 IP | 0.00 ERA | 2 Hits Allowed (First Ever)
• 03/17/2025 - Ava Brown - Player of the Week | 3 HR | 5 RBIS | .833 SLG%
• 03/17/2025 - Lizzy Tommasini - Pitcher of the Week | 2-0 | 12 IP | 0.58 ERA | 6 Hits | 2 RA (First Ever)
• 03/24/2025 - Gracie Smith - Player of the Week | .700 (7-10) | 2HR | 1 DBL | 1.400 SLG% | 4 RBI | 2 SB
• 03/31/2025 - Ava Brown - Player of the Week | .500 (4-8) | 2 HR | 6 RBIS | 4 Runs | 1.250 SLG% | 1.000 FLD
• 04/07/2025 - Belle Navarrete - Player of the Week | .714 | 6 RBI | 2 HR in Same Inning | 1.857 SLG%
• 04/14/2025- Jenna Kearns - Player of the Week | 2 Game Winners | 3 RBIS | 7 TB | .778 SLG%
• 04/21/2025 - Jenna Kearns - Player of the Week | .643 | 3 DBL | 3 HR | 13 RBI | 1.500 SLG%
• 04/21/2025 - Megan Meracle - Pitcher of the Week | 2-0 | 0.58 ERA | 12 IP | 6H | 7 SO | .150 OPP BA
• 4/28/2025 - Ava Brown - Player of the Week | 4 homeruns and New Big Sky single-season record holder
• 4/28/2025 - Megan Meracle - Pitcher of the Week | 1st perfect game in Idaho State school history | W, 11-0
Record All-Conference Showing
Not only were the Bengals honored week-to-week, but Idaho State also cleaned up on All-Conference awards and honors. The Bengals finished the 2025 season, earning 15 awards and honors, a new high for the Idaho State softball program.
The Bengals swept the first-team outfielder and pitcher positions, the first time ever in Big Sky history that the awards have gone to a single school
Player of the Year: Ava Brown, Idaho State*
Pitcher of the Year: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State
Tri-Top Newcomer of the Year: Kasey Aguinaga
Coach of the Year: Andrew Rich, Idaho State*
First Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State*
Outfield: Ava Brown, Idaho State*
Outfield: Gracie Smith, Idaho State*
Outfield: Alyssa Yee, Idaho State
Pitcher: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State
Pitcher: Lizzy Tommasini, Idaho State
Second Team All-Big Sky
Second Base: Belle Navarrete, Idaho State
Shortstop: Camryn McDonald, Idaho State
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention
First Base: Kennedy Dudley, Idaho State
Third Base: Brooke Peterson, Idaho State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Olivia Robinson, Idaho State
2025 Big Sky Regular Season Champions
For the 5th time in program history, the Bengals won the Big Sky regular Season championship. Idaho State was able to do it in four series, closing out the trophy at home against the Unviersity of Montana the week before heading to Portland to take on the Vikings.
The championship is the 2nd for Head Coach Andrew Rich in his four seasons at the helm of the Idaho State program.
2025 Season Statistical Highs
Offensive Powerhouse
The Bengals slugged their way through the season with a team batting average of .311 and an eye-popping 72 home runs—shattering both program and conference marks. Idaho State racked up 754 total bases and drove in 316 runs, averaging nearly six runs per contest.
Leading the offensive charge was Ava Brown, who put together one of the most prolific seasons in Big Sky history. Brown smashed 25 home runs and drove in 66 RBIs, leading the Bengals in both categories and slugging .937. She was flanked by consistent hitters Gracie Smith (.398 avg, 12 HRs, 37 RBIs) and Alyssa Yee (.386 avg, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs), both of whom surpassed the 60-hit mark.
Other major contributors included Jenna Kearns, who added 7 home runs and 30 RBIs, and Kennedy Dudley, who delivered 30 RBIs while starting all 54 games.
Speed, Patience, and Pressure
On the basepaths, Idaho State swiped 77 bases in 89 attempts, led by Smith (26 steals) and Yee (17 steals). The Bengals also displayed remarkable plate discipline, drawing 205 walks while striking out just 221 times. Their on-base percentage finished at a robust .405.
Pitching Staff Delivers
The Bengals' pitching rotation held opponents to a .281 batting average and posted a staff ERA of 3.64. Freshman sensation Megan Meracle emerged as a breakout star, going 9-2 in 24 appearances with a 3.11 ERA and 72 strikeouts across 83.1 innings. She also threw the first perfect game in program history in the regular season finale.
Lizzy Tommasini emerged as a reliable presence in the circle, finishing the year with a 7-4 record and a 3.29 ERA over 76.2 innings pitched. Her ability to close out games was pivotal, as she notched three saves while also starting 11 games. Tommasini struck out 45 batters and limited opponents to a .300 average, showing poise in high-leverage situations throughout conference play.
Kasey Aguinaga shouldered the heaviest workload for the Bengals, leading the team in both wins (14) and innings pitched (96.1). The right-hander posted a 3.34 ERA and struck out 42 while walking just 28. Known for her consistency, Aguinaga made 27 appearances and started 16 games, delivering five complete games and helping Idaho State maintain momentum throughout the regular season and into postseason competition.
Senior Riley Wickum added a 6-4 record and was a key midseason anchor.
The pitching corps recorded four shutouts, struck out 206 batters, and allowed just 48 home runs over 348 innings.
Defensive Consistency
Idaho State finished with a team fielding percentage of .971, led by near-perfect seasons from Gracie Smith (.990), Kennedy Dudley (.991), and Josslin Law, who posted a perfect 1.000 in limited action. Catcher Jenna Kearns threw out nine base stealers and tallied 12 putouts on pickoffs and wild pitches.
The team also turned 24 double plays and held opponents to a .964 fielding percentage, capitalizing on defensive miscues throughout the year.
Game Highs
The 2025 season was packed with record-setting team and individual game performances that showcased the Bengals' explosive potential.
Team Highs:
- Most runs scored in a game: 17 vs. Montana (Apr. 14)
- Most hits: 18 at Utah State (Apr. 8)
- Most RBIs: 16 (twice — vs. Montana and vs. Northern Colorado)
- Most Doubles: 6 ( at Utah State, Apr. 8) – Ties Team Record
- Most home runs: 6 vs. Montana (Apr. 14)
- Most total bases: 32 vs. Northern Colorado (Apr. 5)
- Most stolen bases: 6 (twice — vs. UC San Diego and Montana)
- Most walks: 12 vs. Montana (Apr. 14)
- Most strikeouts by pitching staff: 12 vs. Utah Valley (Feb. 7)
Individual Highs:
- Most RBIs in a game: 7 by Jenna Kearns vs. Montana (Apr. 14)
- Most total bases: 10 (Gracie Smith vs. Saint Mary's; Ava Brown vs. Montana)
- Most home runs in a game: 2 (10 different instances)
- Most stolen bases: 4 by Alyssa Yee vs. UC San Diego (Feb. 23)
- Most runs scored: 4 by Yee and Brown
- Most strikeouts (pitching): 9 by Megan Meracle vs. Weber State (May 10)
