POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State is back home all weekend long hosting two back-to-back series at Miller Ranch Stadium. First, the Bengals host the Oregon State Beavers in a three-game series Thursday and Friday. Then, it's the Seatlle Redhawks in town Saturday and Sunday for the weekend triple header.
All games are streamed on ESPN+ with Logan Kelso and Taylor Fitzgerald on the call, live stats will also be provided.
The Bengals come into the weekend's slate 18-12 with a 5-1 record on the home diamond.
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How to Follow
The Field
Idaho State Bengals
Oregon State
Seattle U
What to Watch
Riding a strong stretch
Idaho State enters the weekend at 18-12 overall after going 8-2 over its last 10 games, including a 5-0 run through the Orange and Black Classic and a two-game sweep at San Diego. The Bengals have won eight straight at their longest streak this season and are 5-1 at home, giving them a comfortable footing as they open a back-to-back series weekend in Pocatello against Oregon State and Seattle U.
Groves finding another gear
Sydney Groves leads the Big Sky Conference in home runs (10), total bases (67), and slugging percentage (.782), ranking 25th nationally in home runs. She has reached base in 11 consecutive games at her longest streak of the season and has posted multiple hits in eight games, the most on the roster. Groves has become one of the most complete threats in the Bengal lineup from top to bottom.
Brown and Day anchoring the middle
Brown, Day, and Groves are all tied for the Big Sky Conference lead in RBI with 28 each. Having three players at the top of the conference in the same category reflects the kind of lineup depth that makes Idaho State difficult to game plan against. No single player can be neutralized without the other two remaining dangerous.
Yee stays consistent
Alyssa Yee leads Idaho State with 27 runs scored and is hitting .341 on the season, adding seven doubles, a triple, and six stolen bases. She has reached base in six consecutive games at her current streak and has posted multiple hits in seven contests. Yee provides consistent pressure at the top of the order and has scored two or more runs in nine games this season, the most on the roster.
Power from everywhere
Idaho State has hit 34 home runs through 30 games, spread across eight different players. The Bengals are 7-2 when connecting on two or more home runs and are 9-3 when hitting at least one. The lineup is hitting .304 as a team with a .527 slugging percentage, giving Idaho State multiple ways to generate runs on any given night.
Early leads, consistent results
Idaho State has been dominant when getting in front first. The Bengals are 17-1 when leading after four innings, 17-0 when leading after six, and 16-5 when scoring first. Conversely, they are 1-8 when trailing after four and 0-10 when trailing after six. Establishing the lead early has been the clearest path to a Bengal win all season.
Goluskin and Aguinaga leading the circle
Marley Goluskin and Kasey Aguinaga have developed into one of the more reliable pitching tandems in the conference field. Goluskin leads the staff with a 2.90 ERA across 50.2 innings, posting 40 strikeouts, a 2.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and two shutouts while holding opponents to a .250 average. Aguinaga has thrown six complete games and carries a 3.12 ERA across 58.1 innings with 33 strikeouts and a .256 opponent average. Together they have combined for eight complete games and four shutouts, giving Idaho State consistent length and control in the circle.
Runs equal results
Idaho State's record tracks directly with offensive output. The Bengals are 7-0 when scoring 10 or more runs and 6-2 when scoring between six and nine. On the other side, they are 1-7 when held to two runs or fewer. Keeping the offense producing deep into games has been the separator between wins and losses all season.
Scoring first, winning games
Idaho State has been nearly unbeatable when striking first. The Bengals are 16-5 when scoring first and just 2-7 when the opponent scores first, a gap that underscores how critical it is for Idaho State to set the tone early. Combined with 44 first-inning runs scored, the most productive frame on the season, getting on the board in the opening at-bat has been one of the program's most reliable formulas for a win.
Dominant offensively across the board
Idaho State leads the Big Sky Conference in batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.385), slugging percentage (.527), home runs (34), runs scored (178), RBI (162), doubles (54), and walks (93). The Bengals rank in the top 100 nationally in home runs (41st), runs scored (51st), and slugging percentage (56th), making them one of the most productive offenses in the country at any level.
Winning the hit column
When Idaho State out-hits its opponent, it wins. The Bengals are a perfect 15-0 when recording more hits than the opposing team and just 3-10 when out-hit. That correlation is as clean as any split in the data and puts a premium on the lineup sustaining pressure from top to bottom rather than relying on a single big inning.
2026 Home Games Update
Idaho State has been dominant at home this season, going 5-1 at Doris Dodson Field through six games and outscoring opponents 46-13 in the process. The Bengals have held opponents scoreless in the first two innings of every home game this season, surrendering zero runs in both the first and second innings combined while scoring 16 and 11 in those same frames. That early-game control has set the tone in each outing and given Idaho State a lead it has rarely relinquished.
The offense has been exceptional at home, hitting .345 as a team with a .583 slugging percentage and a .458 on-base percentage across six games. Ava Brown has led the way, hitting .471 with five doubles, one home run, eight runs scored, and six RBI in six home appearances. Sydney Groves has been equally dangerous, hitting .417 with three home runs, nine RBI, and a 1.250 slugging percentage while drawing six walks. Alyssa Yee has scored eight runs and Camryn McDonald has added six runs scored and a .385 average, reflecting how deep the production has been up and down the order.
In the circle, Idaho State pitchers have combined for a 1.94 team ERA at home across 36.0 innings, holding opponents to a .215 batting average and 31 strikeouts against 12 walks. The staff has thrown two shutouts and limited opponents to two or fewer runs in four of the six home games. Idaho State is 5-1 when scoring first at home and has yet to trail after four innings in a home contest, going a perfect 5-1 when leading after four.
Scouting the Beavers
Oregon State enters the series at 11-20 overall under 13th-year head coach Laura Berg, carrying a one-game winning streak after taking the finale against Weber State on March 14. The Beavers are 1-4 at home and 1-5 in true road games, with the bulk of their wins coming at neutral-site tournaments where they have gone 9-11. Oregon State has faced a demanding early schedule that included matchups against ranked opponents UCLA, Florida, and Oregon, going 0-5 in those contests. The program is still searching for consistency, having dropped two of three to Weber State in Corvallis just before making the trip to Pocatello.
Offensively, Oregon State is hitting .289 as a team with 153 runs scored and a .473 slugging percentage through 31 games. The lineup is led by Jaeya Butler, who is hitting .413 with 15 home runs, 39 RBI, and a .945 slugging percentage in 31 starts, making her one of the most dangerous individual hitters Idaho State will face all season. Jada Lewis adds a .386 average with 11 stolen base attempts and a .458 on-base percentage, giving the Beavers a complementary on-base presence at the top of the order. Tristian Thompson has contributed 8 home runs and 26 RBI from the middle of the lineup, and Morgan Howey provides additional pop with 4 home runs and a .526 slugging percentage. Oregon State has drawn 83 walks as a team and attempts stolen bases aggressively, going 35-for-43 on the season, the highest attempt total Idaho State will have seen from any opponent this series.
On the mound, Oregon State carries a 4.82 team ERA across 200.1 innings with 85 strikeouts and 66 walks allowed. Amelia Streuber leads the staff in appearances and innings pitched, going 6-7 with a 4.89 ERA across 67.1 innings, though opponents are hitting .349 against her. Bailey Murray has been the most reliable arm, posting a 3.94 ERA in 64.0 innings with 41 strikeouts, two complete games, and two shutouts while holding opponents to a .263 average. Kimberlee Aleman has struggled in eight starts, carrying a 5.73 ERA with opponents hitting .360 against her. Defensively, the Beavers are fielding at a .949 clip with 45 errors in 31 games, and opponents have gone 36-for-41 on stolen base attempts against
Scouting the Redhawks
Seattle University enters the series at 14-10 overall under head coach Geoff Hirai, riding a three-game winning streak after sweeping Montana in the SU Invite on March 6-7. The Redhawks are 3-0 at home and 2-3 in true road games, with the majority of their schedule played at neutral sites where they have gone 9-7. Seattle U has shown the ability to compete against quality opposition, picking up wins over UNLV, BYU, and UC Davis while also dropping games to ranked opponents Nebraska, UCLA, and Washington. A scheduled three-game series against Sacramento State on March 14-15 was canceled, leaving the Redhawks without game action since March 8 heading into Pocatello.
Seattle University is one of the more offensively productive programs Idaho State will face this season, hitting .327 as a team with a .528 slugging percentage and a .399 on-base percentage through 24 games. Avari Morris leads the lineup at .434 with a 1.146 OPS, 17 home runs, and a .663 slugging percentage in 24 starts, making her the primary power threat in the order. Taylor Fitch has been equally dangerous, hitting .429 with a 1.451 OPS, 29 home runs in total bases, and a .922 slugging percentage across 24 starts. Ava Sin checks in at .412 with a .750 on-base percentage and Karen Spadafora adds a .324 average with four home runs and 16 RBI. The Redhawks have drawn 74 walks as a team and scored 164 runs through 24 games, giving them one of the more balanced and deep offensive lineups Idaho State will have seen this season.
In the circle, Seattle University carries a 4.78 team ERA across 156.2 innings with 123 strikeouts and 75 walks allowed. Berkley Vance leads the staff with a 4.17 ERA in 53.2 innings across 13 appearances, posting 34 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .238 average. Avari Morris has also contributed in the circle with a 4.74 ERA across 41.1 innings and 40 strikeouts. Kaia Galaviz has made five appearances with a 4.57 ERA across 30.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .280 against the Seattle U staff with 25 home runs allowed, and the Redhawks have committed 25 errors in 24 games for a .955 team fielding percentage. Seattle U has allowed 25 stolen base attempts from opponents, surrendering 25 of 31 attempts, a potential area to exploit on the bases.
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
- 3/9/2026 – Riley Wickum – Pitcher of the Week
- 3/9/2026 – Kira day – Player of the week
- 3/16/2026 – Kasey Aguinaga – Co-Pitcher of the Week
- 3/16/2026 – Sydney Groves – Player of the Week.
On Deck
Next week, The Bengals aren't going anywhere, Weber State is in town Saturday and Sunday for the start of Big Sky Conference play.
