POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State softball team opened the 2026 season with a split on Friday at the Fresno State Kickoff Classic at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bengals earned a 9–1 victory over SIUE in the season opener before falling 9–1 to host Fresno State in the nightcap. Idaho State sits at 1–1 through the first day of tournament play.
Game 1, Idaho State vs SIUE (W, 9–1)
Idaho State jumped out early and never looked back in its 2026 season opener, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning and building steady separation throughout the contest.
After a scoreless top of the first, the Bengals capitalized on defensive miscues and timely hitting to take control. Sydney Groves reached on an error and later scored the game's first run. Jenna Kearns recorded the first hit of the season for Idaho State, a single, before Camryn McDonald delivered a two-RBI single to give the Bengals a 3–0 lead.
Kasey Aguinaga set the tone in the circle, retiring the side in order in the first and recording the first strikeout of the season in the second inning. Idaho State added another run in the second when Ava Brown singled home Renay Chavez, extending the lead to 4–0.
The Bengals continued to apply pressure in the third. Kearns doubled to open the inning, marking the first double of the season, and Kennedy Dudley followed with an RBI single. Chloe McGreevy, pinch running, recorded the first stolen base of her career before Hayden Hummel drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to push the margin to 6–0.
SIUE got on the board with a solo home run in the fourth, but Aguinaga worked out of trouble and Idaho State answered in the fifth. Dudley doubled to start the inning, and the Bengals plated three more runs on RBI singles from Alyssa Yee and Brown, followed by a sacrifice fly from Groves to close out the scoring.
Aguinaga went the distance, allowing three hits and one run while striking out three to earn the season-opening win.
Bengal Bites, Game 1
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Idaho State recorded 13 hits in the season opener
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Kasey Aguinaga earned her first win of the season, tossing a complete game
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Jenna Kearns finished 3-for-3 with a double and scored twice
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Ava Brown went 2-for-4 with two RBI
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Renay Chavez and Hayden Hummel made their first career starts as true freshmen
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Chavez recorded her first career hit and first career stolen base
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Chloe McGreevy tallied the first stolen base of her collegiate career
Game 2, Idaho State vs Fresno State (L, 1–9)
Idaho State was held in check by Fresno State pitching in the nightcap as the Bulldogs pulled away late to secure the win.
The game remained scoreless through the first inning before Fresno State opened the scoring in the second. Idaho State answered in the third when Renay Chavez singled and later scored on an RBI single from Ava Brown, tying the game at 1–1.
Fresno State responded with runs in each of the next three innings, using timely extra-base hits and plate discipline to build separation. The Bulldogs broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-RBI double, to put the game out of reach.
Lizzy Tommasini started in the circle for the Bengals and worked into the fourth inning before Megan Meracle came on in relief. Idaho State finished with five hits in the contest, with Olivia Robison and Brown each collecting base hits.
Bengal Bites, Game 2
The 2026 Fresno State kickoff classic continues tomorrow as the Bengals play another two games. Idaho State starts the day with a game against SIUE at 12:00 PM MT followed by another matchup with host Fresno State directly after the first game.
