POCATELLO, Idaho – The Bengals are back on the road this week heading to Eugene, Oregon to take on the Oregon Classic. The Bengals will face off against host #20 Oregon, Stetson and Samford in a five game set over the weekend. The Games will have live stats available and video broadcast will be available on BIG10+ a paid subscription streaming service.
The Bengals are coming off of a 3-2 weekend at the UNLV Rebel Classic where ISU brought home wins against Valparaiso and Merrimack.
How to Follow
The Field
Idaho State Bengals – ISU Gamenotes
Oregon
Stetson
Samford
What to Watch
Power, and it's coming from everywhere
Idaho State has produced 17 home runs through 15 games, backing a .519 team slugging percentage. The Bengals have gotten homers from eight different players, led by Ava Brown (6) and Sydney Groves (4), giving the lineup game-changing potential from top to bottom.
Brown driving the offense
Ava Brown has been Idaho State's top run producer, leading the Bengals with 6 home runs and 19 RBI, while also pacing the team in total bases (34) and walks (7). Her ability to change a game with one swing has been a constant through the first two weekends.
Kearns keeps the lineup moving
Jenna Kearns leads Idaho State with 17 hits and has piled up 31 total bases behind four doubles, two triples and two home runs. The Bengals have also done their damage early, scoring 24 first-inning runs, their highest output in any frame this season.
Finish the job
Idaho State has been at its best when playing from in front, going 7-0 when leading after four innings, and 7-0 when leading after five or six. Establishing an early edge has translated directly into wins.
Anchoring the Circle
Kasey Aguinaga has established herself as the staff leader with a 5-1 record and a 2.72 ERA across 36.0 innings pitched. She has thrown four complete games, including one shutout, and is holding opponents to a .244 batting average.
Behind her, the staff has shown complementary strengths. Marley Goluskin owns a 3.97 ERA with a team-high 21 strikeouts in 24.2 innings, limiting opponents to a .269 average and not allowing a home run.
As a unit, Idaho State pitchers have combined for three shutouts and have been especially effective protecting leads, with the Bengals holding a 7-0 record when leading after four innings. When the circle establishes control early, the results have followed.
Getting on base, creating pressure
Idaho State owns a .373 team on-base percentage with 41 walks in 15 games, consistently putting traffic on the bases. Combined with the lineup's power, that pressure has created scoring opportunities throughout the order.
2026 UNLV Rebel Classic
daho State put together a 3-2 week at the 2026 UNLV Rebel Classic, highlighted by a 2-0 Sunday sweep to close the weekend and an 8-7 overall record through 15 games this season. The Bengals scored 35 runs across the five games while posting 45 hits, including 12 doubles and six home runs.
Idaho State opened the tournament Friday with a 16-6 loss at Utah Valley before responding later that day with an 8-6 win over Valparaiso. "We showed a ton of fight on Friday night after a long break between games and falling behind," remarked Rich. "We chipped away with a lot of quality at bats and had contributions throughout the roster to pull that one out against Valpo. Ava had a huge swing in the 7th inning to give us a lead and it was great to see Lizzy finish it off."
The Bengals continued to generate offense throughout the weekend, but came up short Saturday against host UNLV, 14-6, setting up a strong finish on the final day.
Sunday belonged to the Bengals, who capped the event with a run-rule win and a shutout. Idaho State defeated Merrimack 6-0 behind six shutout innings from Marley Goluskin, then closed the weekend with a 9-1, five-inning win over Valparaiso. The Bengals outscored opponents 15-1 on Sunday and allowed just three hits across 12 innings in the circle on the final day.
Offensively, Alyssa Yee led Idaho State with a .500 average for the weekend, going 7-for-14 with seven runs scored and a home run. Ava Brown drove in a team-high seven RBI while adding three doubles and two home runs in five games. Kira Day delivered one of the biggest production weekends of any Bengal, driving in seven runs while batting .429 with a 1.000 slugging percentage. Kennedy Dudley and Camryn McDonald each hit .500 over the five-game stretch, while the Bengals finished the tournament hitting .346 as a team with a .577 slugging percentage.
In the circle, Goluskin earned a pair of starts and finished 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA across 11.2 innings, striking out 10. Aguinaga went 1-0 in three appearances and logged the weekend's lone complete game for Idaho State in the five-inning win over Valparaiso on Sunday.
Bengal Bites
• Idaho State sits at 8-7 overall through 15 non-conference games, holding a 6-3 neutral site record and a 2-4 mark in true road contests.
• The Bengals have outscored opponents 87-80 this season and recorded three shutouts.
• Idaho State is 6-2 when scoring first and a perfect 7-0 when leading after four innings, including 7-0 when leading after five and six innings.
• The Bengals carry a two-game winning streak entering the weekend.
• Offensively, Idaho State is hitting .304 as a team with 113 hits, 25 doubles, two triples, and 17 home runs, good for a .519 slugging percentage and .373 on-base percentage.
• Idaho State is 5-2 when scoring between six and nine runs and 2-0 when scoring 10 or more runs, but 0-4 when scoring two runs or fewer.
• The Bengals are 6-0 when out-hitting opponents and 4-2 when hitting two or more home runs in a game.
• Jenna Kearns leads the team with a .362 batting average and 17 hits, pacing the Bengals offensively from the top of the lineup.
• Ava Brown has delivered a team-high six home runs and 19 RBI while posting a .791 slugging percentage.
• Sydney Groves owns a .711 slugging percentage with four home runs, while Alyssa Yee and Camryn McDonald are each batting .333.
• Idaho State has plated 24 first-inning runs this season and is 6-2 when scoring in the opening frame.
• In the circle, the Bengals own a 5.57 team ERA across 86.2 innings pitched.
• Kasey Aguinaga leads the staff with a 5-1 record and a 2.72 ERA, including four complete games and one shutout across 36.0 innings.
• Marley Goluskin has recorded a team-high 21 strikeouts in 24.2 innings, while Riley Wickum owns one shutout this season.
• Idaho State pitchers have limited opponents to nine total home runs through 15 games.
• Defensively, the Bengals hold a .959 fielding percentage and are undefeated when leading after the fourth inning or later, reinforcing their ability to close games when playing from ahead.
2026 Outlook
Idaho State Bengals softball enters the 2026 season with significant momentum after one of the strongest campaigns in program history. The Bengals finished 37–17 overall and 13–2 in conference play in 2025, showcasing consistency across all environments with an 8–5 home record, 15–8 mark on the road, and 14–4 record at neutral sites. Idaho State paired offensive firepower with pitching depth throughout the season, dominating the Big Sky regular season crown.
Offensively, the Bengals return nearly their entire core from a lineup that produced a .311 team batting average, 72 home runs, and 316 RBI in 2025. Senior Ava Brown headlines the group after a dominant season at the plate, batting .371 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI, serving as the centerpiece of a lineup that consistently applied pressure. Fellow senior Alyssa Yee was equally impactful, hitting .386 while scoring 59 runs and driving in 42 more, reaching base at a high clip and setting the table at the top of the order.
Idaho State also brings back a deep group of experienced hitters throughout the lineup. Senior Gracie Smith turned in a .398 batting average with 12 home runs, while senior Olivia Robison provided consistent production in the middle of the order, batting .308 with 33 RBI. Junior Camryn McDonald and junior Jenna Kearns offer stability and versatility defensively while contributing key offensive innings, and senior Kennedy Dudley remains a dependable presence after starting nearly every game a season ago.
The Bengals further bolster an already potent offense with the addition of senior Sydney Groves, who transferred to Idaho State after three standout seasons at Boise State. Groves brings extensive Division I production and postseason experience, highlighted by NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team honors in 2024 and multiple All-Mountain West selections. As a junior in 2025, she appeared in 50 games with 40 starts and hit .336 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI, following a sophomore campaign in which she blasted 18 home runs and drove in a Boise State single-season record 57 RBI. A former D1Softball National Player of the Week and three-time Mountain West Player of the Week, Groves adds immediate power, experience, and leadership to an already deep Bengal lineup.
In the circle, Idaho State returns a fully intact pitching staff from 2025, a rarity entering a new season. The Bengals posted a 3.64 team ERA last year and logged more than 348 innings, with four pitchers throwing at least 68 innings apiece. Senior Kasey Aguinaga led the staff with 96.1 innings pitched, while sophomore Megan Meracle emerged as a strikeout presence with 72 punchouts in 83.1 innings. Redshirt sophomore Lizzy Tommasini and senior Riley Wickum added valuable depth, with each making double-digit starts. Junior Marley Goluskin also returns after missing time due to injury, bringing back proven experience after a 2024 season in which she posted a 9–7 record with a 3.25 ERA and earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors. With additional innings returning from Kaliann Scoresby and Josslin Law, Idaho State enters 2026 with both experience and flexibility in the pitching rotation.
Defensively, the Bengals showed consistency behind the plate and in the field, turning 24 double plays and holding opponents to a .281 batting average. That balance between offense, pitching, and defense allowed Idaho State to control games late and succeed in close contests throughout the season.
Preseason Honors
The Big Sky Conference released its 2026 preseason softball awards, and Idaho State Bengals softball was well represented following its 2025 regular-season championship run. Voted on by the league's six head coaches, Idaho State led the conference with five preseason All-Conference selections and senior outfielder Ava Brown was named the Big Sky Preseason Most Valuable Player after a historic season at the plate.
Brown was joined on the preseason All-Conference team by Jenna Kearns, Alyssa Yee, Kasey Aguinaga, and Lizzy Tommasini, giving the Bengals representation across every phase of the game. The five selections tied for the most in the league and reflected Idaho State's balance of offensive production, pitching depth, and veteran experience heading into the 2026 season.
Preseason Poll
The Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll placed Idaho State Bengals softball at the top heading into the 2026 season, as the Bengals were picked to finish first among the league's six programs. Idaho State earned five first-place votes and a league-best 25 points after capturing the 2025 regular-season title.
Weber State was selected second in the poll following its Big Sky Tournament championship, while Sacramento State finished third after receiving the remaining first-place vote. Northern Colorado, Portland State, and Montana rounded out the preseason order as Idaho State enters the year as the league favorite.
Big Sky Players/Pitchers of the Week
Idaho State Slugger Jenna Kearns was awarded the first Big Sky Player of the week award in the 2026 after her performance at the 2026 Fresno State Kickoff Classic.
Award Winners
- 2/9/2026 – Jenna Kearns – Player of the Week
Scouting the #20 Oregon Ducks
Oregon enters the weekend at 8-6 overall. The Ducks opened the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with wins over Missouri and No. 21 Liberty, along with losses to No. 13 Clemson, No. 4 Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana. At the Cardinal Classic, Oregon went 3-1, including a 9-0 five-inning win over Kentucky, before falling 4-5 to No. 13 Stanford. At the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, the Ducks earned wins over No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 13 South Carolina and No. 20 Duke, and enter the week on a one-game winning streak. Head coach Melyssa Lombardi is in her eighth season leading the program after being named the 12th head coach in school history in 2018.
Offensively, Oregon is hitting .292 as a team with 107 hits in 366 at-bats, totaling 68 runs, 18 doubles, two triples and nine home runs for a .426 slugging percentage and .379 on-base percentage. Ayanna Shaw leads the Ducks with a .486 batting average and 18 hits, while Kaylynn Jones is batting .400 with 12 runs scored and seven walks. Elon Butler carries a .366 average with two home runs and eight RBI, and Amari Harper has produced four home runs and 11 RBI with a .651 slugging percentage. Oregon has drawn 45 walks and struck out 72 times while going 10-for-15 in stolen base attempts.
In the circle, Oregon owns a 3.16 team ERA across 93.0 innings pitched, allowing 83 hits and 42 earned runs with 40 walks and 109 strikeouts. Lyndsey Grein leads the staff with a 2.38 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 32.1 innings, holding opponents to a .171 batting average. Taylour Spencer is 3-2 with a 4.01 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 22.2 innings, while Elise Sokolsky and Maddie Milhorn each have recorded a save. Defensively, the Ducks hold a .969 fielding percentage with 12 errors through 14 games and have turned five double plays.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Samford enters the weekend at 6-9 overall and riding a one-game winning streak. The Bulldogs opened the season at the JoAnne Graf Classic, earning a win over UConn before facing ranked opponents Florida State, Iowa and Marshall. At the Samford Tournament, they went 2-2 with wins over Lindenwood and a loss to Belmont and North Alabama. Most recently at the Bulldog Invitational, Samford picked up wins over Delaware State and fell to No. 14 Mississippi State and Belmont. Head coach Megan Curry is in her second season leading the program after being named the 11th head coach in school history in June 2024.
Offensively, Samford is hitting .269 as a team with 97 hits in 361 at-bats, totaling 65 runs with 16 doubles, three triples and 14 home runs for a .446 slugging percentage and .354 on-base percentage. Katie Campbell leads the Bulldogs with a .310 average and a team-high six home runs and 12 RBI, posting an .833 slugging percentage. Brandy Phillips is batting .341 with three home runs, while Ella Nelson carries a .344 average and a .462 on-base percentage. Olivia Shaw has added five doubles and two home runs with 12 RBI, and Samford has drawn 38 walks while striking out 80 times.
In the circle, Samford owns a 5.00 team ERA across 91.0 innings pitched, allowing 118 hits and 65 earned runs with 47 walks and 70 strikeouts. Makinley Turner leads the rotation with a 2.42 ERA and a 3-3 record across 37.2 innings, recording 33 strikeouts and two shutouts. Brandy Phillips has made five starts with a 4.36 ERA and 22 strikeouts, while Reese Hickey and Claire McArthur have also logged innings in the staff rotation. Defensively, the Bulldogs hold a .963 fielding percentage with 14 errors and have turned 16 double plays through 15 games.
Scouting the Hatters
Stetson enters the weekend at 12-3 overall and riding a four-game winning streak. The Hatters opened the season with an extended homestand in DeLand before traveling to South Florida on Feb. 18, where they dropped a pair of road contests, 3-4 in 10 innings and 5-8. Stetson responded by winning four straight games over Columbia and St. John's to close its most recent tournament weekend. Overall, the Hatters have outscored opponents 109-52 through 15 games.
Offensively, Stetson is hitting .341 as a team with 139 hits in 408 at-bats, producing 21 doubles, one triple and 23 home runs for a .566 slugging percentage and a .426 on-base percentage. Nicole Edmiaston has been one of the nation's most productive hitters early in the season, batting .596 with seven home runs, 29 RBI and a 1.106 slugging percentage. Irianis Garcia is hitting .404 with four home runs and 20 runs scored, while Logan Forman has added five home runs and 16 RBI. Annabella McClerren owns a .378 average with a .525 on-base percentage, and the Hatters have drawn 57 walks against just 53 strikeouts as a team.
In the circle, Stetson owns a 2.57 team ERA across 100.2 innings, allowing 106 hits and 37 earned runs with just 23 walks. Ava Braswell leads the staff with a 6-1 record and a 1.85 ERA across 45.1 innings, including three complete games and one shutout. Jenna Johnston has posted a 2.44 ERA in 28.2 innings, while Kennedy Temples is 3-1 with 20 strikeouts. Defensively, the Hatters hold a .963 fielding percentage with 17 errors and have turned seven double plays through 15 games.
On Deck
The Bengals finally return home to Miller Ranch Stadium next week to host the 2026 Orange and Black Classic presented by Direct Communications. The Bengals will face off against squads from Maine and Southern Utah, March 5-8 at the home field
