POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State kept its grip on first place in the Big Sky Conference standings Friday, sweeping a doubleheader from Sacramento State at Miller Ranch Stadium, 7-5 and 8-0. The wins improve the Bengals to 32-16 overall and 8-3 in conference play, maintaining first place in the Big Sky Conference standings.
GAME 1: Idaho State 7, Sacramento State 5
The Bengals used a pair of crooked numbers in the middle innings to pull away from the Hornets in the opener, rallying from an early 2-0 deficit to win in seven innings.
Sacramento State jumped out to a 2-0 lead through three innings, with Madison Evers-Lyles providing the difference with a solo home run in the third. Idaho State starter Kasey Aguinaga limited the damage, none more crucially than a bases-loaded strikeout of Lafulafu Malepeai that kept the Bengals within striking distance.
"Even once it got to two to zero, she did a great job of keeping us in the game," head coach Andrew Rich said. "She had a huge strikeout with the bases loaded that kept the game two to zero and gave our offense a chance, and then we used that momentum to take the lead."
Idaho State answered with a three-run fourth inning, sparked by a Camryn McDonald bunt single and a Sydney Groves two-run double to left center. Kennedy Dudley added an RBI single to push the lead to 3-2.
The Bengals blew the game open in the fifth when Groves stepped up with the bases loaded and drove a grand slam to deep center field on a 3-1 pitch, extending the lead to 7-2.
"She got a 3-1 pitch, got a good pitch that was elevated and didn't miss it," Rich said. "She's swinging a really good bat right now."
Sacramento State made it interesting with a three-run seventh, capitalizing on a pair of passed balls and a Saskia Raab single to pull within 7-5, but Aguinaga and reliever Lizzy Tommasini closed it out. Aguinaga earned the win to improve to 14-4, allowing five runs (four earned) in 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts. Tommasini recorded her third save of the season.
Groves finished 2-for-3 with the grand slam, a double, six RBI and two runs scored. McDonald was 2-for-4 with two runs, and Belle Navarrete added two hits.
An early injury scare added another subplot to the opener. Kearns was hit by a foul ball off of her bat in the first inning and had to leave the game, with backup catcher Skylar Williams stepping in and delivering in a big way.
"You cannot say enough about Skylar Williams being ready to go for the moment," Rich said. "She has to come in and take at bats, and then she's catching, she throws a runner out, she drops two beautiful bunts. That grand slam that Syd hit doesn't happen without the perfect bunt that Skylar puts down. Her energy on the field, her energy in the dugout — she's just always ready."
GAME 2: Idaho State 8, Sacramento State 0
Goluskin took the start in the circle and was sharp from the first pitch of the nightcap as the Bengals staked her to an early lead before she could face any pressure.
Idaho State erupted for four runs in the first inning, with Ava Brown delivering a two-run double, Olivia Robison adding a two-run single up the middle and Jaden Moore contributing an RBI groundout. Groves led off the second with a three-run home run to right field — her second of the day — to push the lead to 7-0.
McDonald was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and drew two walks, while Groves finished 1-for-1 with three RBI and drew two more walks. Brown went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. ISU added a final run in the sixth on a McDonald score off a throwing error.
Goluskin worked 5.2 innings, holding Sacramento State scoreless on four hits with five strikeouts and a walk to improve to 9-4.
"Marley was awesome in the second game," Rich said. "She was really spotting up, and when she's spotting up and throwing her changeup, she's tough. To see her be able to keep her pitch count down and attack hitters was really good to see."
"I just need to trust my defense and trust my offense and make sure that I'm doing what I need to do, I know that they have my back," Goluskin said.
For McDonald and the offense, communication throughout the dugout was the difference.
"Hitters talk to each other and we have our charts in the dugout that we study," McDonald said. "Sticking to the plan we have as we go up really helps get base hits and keep it moving throughout the game."
BENGAL BITES
• Idaho State is now 27-5 this season when scoring first and 20-3 when plating runs in the first inning.
• Groves' two home runs on Friday give her 16 on the season to go along with 49 RBIs. She is hitting .338 on the year.
• Groves' grand slam in Game 1 was the second of her career. With the bases-clearing blow, she has now driven in six or more runs in a single game twice this season.
• McDonald leads the team with a .387 batting average, adding to her totals of 43 hits, 30 runs scored and 15 RBI on the year.
• Aguinaga's seven strikeouts in Game 1 give her 67 on the year to go along with her 14-4 record and 2.93 ERA.
• Goluskin's shutout in Game 2 was her ninth win of the season. She owns a 2.61 ERA and has struck out 72 batters in 85.2 innings.
• Idaho State is 15-3 this season in games where the Bengals hit two or more home runs.
• The Bengals are 17-4 at home this season.
• Idaho State has won four consecutive games and eight of its last 10.
ON DECK
The two wins set up a series-sweeping opportunity Saturday in Game 3, with Idaho State ahead two games to none. Sacramento State falls to 26-17 overall and 5-6 in Big Sky play.
Rich acknowledged the Hornets will come out motivated, but expressed confidence in his team's preparation heading into what is also Senior Day for the Bengals.
"They're gonna play a little bit of desperate softball tomorrow, knowing that they need to get a win to stay where they want to stay in the standings," he said. "We gotta come and be locked in from the very beginning. Trust the preparation, trust the plan and really attack."
"It's a good chance. We've talked about, let's get a sweep for all of conference and we've had chances and we haven't been able to close it out," Rich said. "So excited to see how this group comes out tomorrow and really excited to celebrate the seniors and hopefully send them out with a win."
