POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State softball split a home doubleheader with Portland State on Friday, rallying for a 10-7 victory in the opener before dropping the nightcap 9-4 at Miller Ranch Stadium. The Bengals stand at 26-15 overall and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference play heading into Saturday's series rubber match.
GAME 1: Idaho State 10, Portland State 7
Idaho State jumped ahead quickly in the opener, with Alyssa Yee leading off the bottom of the first with a home run to deep center field. After Groves and Kearns drew walks to load the bases, Day delivered an RBI double through the left side to score Groves and push the lead to 2-0.
Portland State tied the game at two in the second on a two-run home run, but Idaho State answered with a productive fourth inning. Moore singled, Day followed with an RBI single, and three runs crossed the plate in the frame to put the Bengals ahead 5-2. The visitors pulled off their most dramatic swing of the game in the fifth, stringing together four walks and a grand slam to claim a 7-5 lead and put Idaho State in a two-run hole.
The Bengals responded immediately. Dudley launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at seven, and the sixth inning proved decisive. Kearns singled to score one, Robison followed with an RBI single, and Dudley capped the rally with an RBI double to left center to complete a three-run frame and give Idaho State the 10-7 lead it would not relinquish. Tommasini opened on the mound and pitched three innings before Aguinaga entered in relief and shut the door, allowing no runs across 2.2 innings on one hit to earn the win and improve to 10-4 on the season. Meracle closed out the final 1.1 innings.
Dudley went 2-for-4 with the home run, the double, and three RBI. Yee and Day each contributed RBI, and Robison added a run batted in off the bench. Moore drove in a run and scored.
GAME 2: Portland State 9, Idaho State 4
Portland State built a 4-0 lead through four innings in the nightcap before Idaho State answered with a four-run fourth of its own to tie the game. Groves was hit by pitch, Moore singled, and Day delivered an RBI single. Robison then launched a three-run home run to deep center field to bring the Bengals level at 4-4.
The Vikings responded with back-to-back two-run home runs in the fifth and sixth innings to rebuild a four-run lead, and a final run in the seventh set the score at 9-4. Goluskin started and pitched four innings before Law entered in relief. Robison's home run was the offensive highlight of the nightcap, finishing 1-for-3 with three RBI. Day went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Kearns added a triple, her fourth of the 2026 season.
- Idaho State splits the opening day of the Portland State series and stands 26-15 overall and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The series rubber match is set for Saturday at 1:00 PM at Miller Ranch Stadium.
- Kennedy Dudley went 2-for-7 across both games with a home run, a double, and three RBI. Her two-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 1 tied the game at seven and sparked the decisive rally, and she added an RBI double in the sixth to cap the three-run frame.
- Olivia Robison homered in Game 2 and drove in four runs on the day. Her RBI single in the sixth inning of Game 1 was part of the decisive three-run frame, and her three-run home run in the fourth inning of Game 2 tied that contest at 4-4.
- Alyssa Yee led off the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 with a home run to deep center field, her fifth home run of the season.
- Kasey Aguinaga earned the win in Game 1 in relief, allowing no runs across 2.2 innings. She is now 10-4 on the season.
- Idaho State scored three runs in the sixth inning of Game 1 to take the lead for good, with Kearns, Robison, and Dudley each delivering RBI hits in the frame.
- The Bengals are 13-4 at home this season and have won the opening game of both Big Sky Conference series played at Miller Ranch Stadium in 2026.
Idaho State and Portland State meet in the series finale on Saturday at Miller Ranch Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
