POCATELLO, Idaho – The first-place Roaring Bengals are back at Miller Ranch for a pivotal Big Sky Series with the second-place Sacramento State Hornets. The Bengals are coming off of a mid-week win over the Boise State Broncos and look to take the momentum into the series.
Saturday is senior day at Miller Ranch. At the conclusion of the game, We will honor our eight seniors as they close out their final regular season on the field.
How to Follow
The Field
Idaho State Bengals
Sacramento State Hornets
What to Watch
Sole possession
Idaho State heads into a non-conference midweek matchup with Boise State holding sole possession of first place in the Big Sky Conference at 6-3. Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, and Montana are all knotted at 5-4, one game back. The Bengals are 30-16 overall with a pivotal weekend series at Sacramento State on deck, making this stretch one of the most important of the season.
Brown commanding respect
Ava Brown has been one of the most productive hitters in the Big Sky Conference all season, hitting .323 with 13 home runs and a team-leading 40 RBI through 45 games. Brown has drawn two intentional walks and 17 walks on the season, a sign of how opposing pitchers have chosen to navigate around her in the lineup. Her 40 RBI are the most on the roster by three.
Yee setting the table and clearing it
Alyssa Yee has emerged as one of the most complete offensive players in the Big Sky, leading the team with 40 runs scored and 55 hits through 45 games. Yee is hitting .390 with 15 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 37 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, giving the Bengals a consistent threat at the top of the order who can beat teams with contact, power, and speed.
Groves and Brown trading haymakers
Sydney Groves and Ava Brown are tied for the
team lead with 13 home runs apiece, making the heart of Idaho State's lineup one of the most dangerous stretches in the Big Sky. Groves has posted a .684 slugging percentage with 37 RBI, while Brown is slugging .714 with 40 RBI. Together they have combined for 26 home runs and 77 RBI through 45 games.
RBI depth chart
Idaho State's RBI production runs deep through the entire lineup. Ava Brown leads the team at 40, followed by Alyssa Yee and Sydney Groves tied at 37, and Kira Day at 31. Having four players with 31 or more RBI reflects the kind of across-the-board offensive depth that makes Idaho State exceptionally difficult to game plan against.
Home run factory
Idaho State has hit 62 home runs through 45 games, ranking 28th nationally and first in the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals are averaging 1.33 home runs per game and are hitting .320 as a team with a .561 slugging percentage, giving Idaho State multiple ways to generate runs from top to bottom on any given night.
Slugging from every slot
Idaho State's power numbers are not concentrated in one spot. Kira Day leads the team at .776, followed by Jaden Moore at .721, Ava Brown at .714, and Sydney Groves at .684. That kind of depth across the lineup puts pressure on opposing pitching staffs from first pitch to last.
Moore making the most of every at-bat
Jaden Moore is hitting .426 with 29 hits, five doubles, five home runs, and 19 RBI across 33 games. Moore ranks among the team leaders in batting average and slugging percentage, giving Idaho State one of the most productive depth options in the lineup whenever her number is called.
The Bengals by the numbers
Idaho State leads the Big Sky Conference in batting average (.320), slugging percentage (.561), home runs (60), RBI (258), runs scored (279), hits (368), on-base percentage (.399), and walks (139) through 45 games. The Bengals rank 55th nationally in batting average, 30th in slugging, and 28th in home runs, giving them one of the most well-rounded offensive profiles in the country.
Front-runners by design
Idaho State has been dominant when getting in front first. The Bengals are 26-1 when leading after four innings, 27-1 when leading after six, and 25-5 when scoring first. Conversely they are 1-11 when trailing after four and 1-13 when trailing after six. Combined with 58 first-inning runs scored, the most productive frame of the season, establishing the lead early has been the clearest formula for a Bengal win all season.
Win the hit column, win the game
When Idaho State out-hits its opponent, it wins. The Bengals are 24-0 when recording more hits than the opposing team and just 4-14 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.
Aguinaga and Goluskin anchoring the circle
Kasey Aguinaga and Marley Goluskin have developed into one of the most productive pitching tandems in the Big Sky Conference. Aguinaga leads the team with 12 wins across 91.2 innings with seven complete games and a 2.75 ERA. Goluskin carries a 2.91 ERA across 77.0 innings with a team-high 66 strikeouts and eight wins. Together they have combined for 12 complete games and account for 20 of Idaho State's 29 wins on the season.
Yee owns conference pitching
Alyssa Yee has been the Big Sky's most dangerous hitter in conference play, hitting .531 with a 1.063 slugging percentage and .583 on-base percentage through nine league games. Yee has collected 17 hits in 32 at-bats with four home runs, 13 RBI, and five stolen bases in Big Sky play, sustaining elite production as the conference sample has grown.
Another gear in league play
Idaho State's offense has shifted into a higher gear in Big Sky Conference games. The Bengals are hitting .372 as a team in conference play with a .682 slugging percentage, compared to .320 and .561 in overall play. The team has scored 63 runs in nine conference games and hit 19 home runs, averaging 7.0 runs and 2.1 home runs per conference contest.
Aguinaga unbeaten in conference
Kasey Aguinaga has been Idaho State's most reliable arm in Big Sky Conference games, posting a 1.54 ERA with a 4-0 record across 22.2 innings. Aguinaga has allowed just five earned runs in conference play while holding opposing hitters to a .261 average, keeping the Bengals in front in the biggest games of the season.
Extra-base machine
Idaho State ranks 10th nationally in doubles with 81 on the season. Alyssa Yee leads the way at 13th nationally with 15 doubles, while Ava Brown has added 11. The Bengals are also 27th nationally in doubles per game at 1.80, giving them one of the most prolific extra-base hit profiles in the country.
Northern Colorado Series
Idaho State takes the road series over Northern Colorado two games to one, outscoring the Bears 18-8 across three games with a .379 team batting average and a 2.03 staff ERA. The Bengals hit seven home runs in the series and received quality starts in all three games from Tommasini, Goluskin, and Aguinaga in turn.
Kearns and Brown led the Bengals all weekend against the Bears. Kearns finished the series, batting .556 with a home run, two RBI, and four runs scored. Brown batted .500 with two home runs and four RBI, and Robison drove in three runs across the three games while batting .429. Dudley led the series with four RBI despite a .250 average, with her home run and double in Game 1 coming in key spots. McDonald provided consistent contact at .417 across 12 at bats. The three-game totals included four doubles and three home runs, with the back-to-back-to-back in the series finale serving as the defining offensive moment of the trip.
On the mound, Tommasini was the story of Game 3, allowing just two hits across six shutout innings. Aguinaga was equally sharp across her appearances, posting a 2.63 ERA over 8 innings between Game 1 and Game 3 closings. Goluskin struck out ten in Game 2 and narrowly missed an impressive victory when a seventh-inning error opened the door for Northern Colorado's walk-off. The staff combined to hold Northern Colorado to a .263 opponent batting average for the series.
Scouting the Hornets
Sacramento State enters this week's series at 26-15 overall and 5-4 in Big Sky play. The Hornets are 12-8 at home in Sacramento but have struggled on the road at 5-6, while posting a strong 9-1 mark in neutral-site games. Sac State opened the season with a dominant stretch, winning 14 of its first 16 games through late February before hitting a rougher patch in March that included losses to Colorado State, Boise State (twice), Utah Valley, and Oregon (twice). In conference play, the Hornets took two of three from Weber State and Montana but dropped two of three at Northern Colorado. They come in on a two-game winning streak.
The Hornet offense is hitting .292 as a team with a .478 slugging percentage and a .360 on-base percentage, powered by 43 home runs through 41 games. Lafulafu Malepeai leads the lineup with a .409 average, 15 home runs, 41 RBI, and an .835 slugging percentage while drawing 28 walks against just seven strikeouts. Katie Marsh has provided a potent bat in 16 starts, hitting .370 with five home runs and a .804 slugging percentage. Saskia Raab (.349, 2 HR, 12 SB) and Madison Evers-Lyles (.331, 7 HR, 31 RBI) give Sac State additional production in the middle of the order. Madi Mendoza (.328, 4 HR) adds another consistent bat while also contributing nine sacrifice bunts. As a team, the Hornets have stolen 53 bases in 67 attempts and have been aggressive on the basepaths throughout the season.
Sacramento State's pitching staff carries a 2.77 ERA with 190 strikeouts and 110 walks in 277.2 innings. Alexa Ortiz (9-7, 2.77 ERA) has been the workhorse with 93.2 innings pitched, eight complete games, and 89 strikeouts, though she has also issued 41 walks. Kennedie Bacon (8-5, 3.00 ERA) has thrown 79.1 innings with seven complete games and three shutouts but has walked 45 batters. Danyelle Leone (4-2, 2.07 ERA) provides a reliable middle option with 61.0 innings and the staff's lowest ERA among high-usage arms. Defensively, the Hornets field at a .960 clip with 50 errors committed, while their catchers have thrown out 22 of 85 attempted base stealers. The pitching staff has been effective overall but the walk totals from Ortiz and Bacon present an area opposing lineups can exploit with patience at the plate.
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
- 03/09/2026 – Riley Wickum – Pitcher of the Week
- 03/09/2026 Kira Day - Player of the Week
- 03/16/2026 – Kasey Aguinaga – Pitcher of the Week
- 03/16/2026 – Sydney Groves – Player of the Week
- 03/23/2026 – Camryn McDonald – Player of the Week
- 03/23/2026 – Marley Goluskin – Pitcher of the Week
- 03/30/2026 – Alyssa Yee – Player of the Week
- 04/13/2026 – Lizzy Tommasini – Pitcher of the Week
On Deck
The Bengals have one final home game of the 2026 regular season next Wednesday April 22 as the Utah Valley Wolverines come to town, then, the Bengals head north to Missoula for a final three-game series with the Montana Griz to wrap up the regular season.
