FRESNO, Calif. – The Idaho State softball team went 1-1 on Saturday to close out Day Two of the Fresno State Kickoff Classic at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bengals opened the day with a five-inning, 12-0 win over SIUE before dropping a 2-0 defensive battle to Fresno State. Idaho State now sits at 2-2 on the season.
Game 3, Idaho State vs SIUE (W, 12-0, 5 innings)
How It Happened
Idaho State wasted no time jumping on SIUE, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning to seize control of the game early.
After a leadoff out, Jenna Kearns doubled to set the tone, and Ava Brown followed with a two-run home run to put the Bengals in front. Sydney Groves doubled, and the inning continued with a mix of aggressive baserunning and timely contact. Alyssa Yee reached on a sacrifice bunt that resulted in an error, allowing a run to score, before Kennedy Dudley singled home another. Skyler Williams added a sacrifice fly, and Camryn McDonald capped the inning with an RBI single as Idaho State built a 6-0 lead.
The Bengals added two more runs in the second inning when Kearns doubled again and Brown launched her second two-run home run of the game, extending the margin to 8-0.
Idaho State continued to add on in the fourth and fifth innings. Kearns scored on a fielder's choice in the fourth, and the Bengals closed out the scoring with three runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Kearns and an RBI single from Chloe McGreevy.
In the circle, Riley Wickum was dominant, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits over five innings, walked two, and struck out one as the Bengals secured the run-rule victory.
Bengal Bites, Game 3
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Idaho State scored 12 runs on 12 hits in the five-inning win
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Ava Brown finished with two home runs and four RBI
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Jenna Kearns went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a triple, and four runs scored
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Riley Wickum earned the shutout, allowing two hits in five innings
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Idaho State committed no errors defensively
Game 4, Idaho State vs Fresno State (L, 0-2)
How It Happened
Idaho State and Fresno State were locked in a pitcher's duel for most of the afternoon, with the Bulldogs scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning and the Bengals unable to break through offensively.
Fresno State used back-to-back singles and a pair of run-scoring fielder's choice plays to take a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. From there, Idaho State pitcher Marley Goluskin settled in, holding the Bulldogs scoreless over the next four-plus innings.
Goluskin worked 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four. The Bengals' defense backed her with clean play behind her, turning a double play and limiting Fresno State opportunities.
Offensively, Idaho State threatened in the third inning when Hayden Hummel and Renay Chavez recorded back-to-back singles, but the rally was cut short. The Bengals were limited to two hits in the contest as Fresno State pitching kept Idaho State off the scoreboard through seven innings.
Bengal Bites, Game 4
On Deck
ISU has one more in Fresno as the Bengals play a third game with the SIUE Cougars Sunday morning. First pitch is set for 10:30 am MT
