POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State hits the road for the first time this Big Sky season, as they head to Greeley to take on the Northern Colorado Bears for first place in the Big Sky standings. Idaho State enters the series 27-15, 4-2 and UNC comes in at 18-20, 4-2.
The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available for all 3 contests.
How to Follow
The Field
Idaho State Bengals
Northern Colorado Bears
What to Watch
Three-way tie at the top
Idaho State heads to Greeley for a pivotal Big Sky Conference series against Northern Colorado, with both teams sitting at 4-2 in conference play. The Bengals, Montana, and Northern Colorado are locked in a three-way tie atop the standings, making this weekend a chance to separate from the pack. Idaho State enters at 27-15 overall and 8-2 in its last 10 games, while Northern Colorado is 18-20 overall but has matched the Bengals' conference record despite a 5-5 mark in its last 10.
Brown commanding respect
Ava Brown has been one of the most productive hitters in the Big Sky Conference all season, hitting .309 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI through 42 games. Brown is part of a four-way tie for the team lead in RBI alongside Alyssa Yee, Jenna Kearns, and Sydney Groves, has drawn two intentional walks, and has collected 17 walks on the season, a sign of how opposing pitchers have chosen to navigate around her in the lineup.
Day delivers in bunches
Kira Day continues to produce at an elite rate, hitting .333 with 9 home runs and 31 RBI through 33 games. Her .787 slugging percentage ranks among the best in the Big Sky Conference and her ability to change a game with one swing has made her one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup. Day has posted multiple RBI in seven games this season, including one five-RBI and one four-RBI performance.
Yee setting the table and clearing it
Alyssa Yee has emerged as one of the most productive offensive players in the Big Sky, leading the team with 40 runs scored through 42 games. Yee is hitting .395 with 51 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, 36 RBI, and 13 stolen bases, giving the Bengals a consistent threat at the top of the order who can beat teams with both contact and speed.
Groves powering the middle
Sydney Groves leads the team with 12 home runs and is part of a four-way tie at 36 RBI on the season. She has posted a .683 slugging percentage and her ability to drive the ball out of the park makes her one of the most complete power threats in the conference.
Dominating the RBI column
Idaho State's RBI production is spread across the entire lineup. Alyssa Yee, Jenna Kearns, Sydney Groves, and Ava Brown are all tied at 36 RBI on the season, while Kira Day sits at 31. Having four players tied for the team lead in RBI reflects the kind of across-the-board offensive
depth that makes Idaho State exceptionally difficult to game plan against.
Power from everywhere
Idaho State has hit 53 home runs through 42 games, spread across the roster. The Bengals are averaging 1.26 home runs per game. The team is hitting .315 with a .555 slugging percentage, giving Idaho State multiple ways to generate runs from top to bottom on any given night.
Owning the slugging leaderboard
Idaho State's power numbers are not concentrated in one spot. Kira Day leads the team at .787, followed by Jaden Moore at .746, Sydney Groves at .683, and Ava Brown at .675. That kind of depth across the lineup puts pressure on opposing pitching staffs from first pitch to last.
Moore making the most of every opportunity
Jaden Moore is hitting .458 with 27 hits, five doubles, four home runs, and 18 RBI across 30 games. Moore ranks among the team leaders in batting average and slugging percentage despite her role, giving Idaho State one of the most productive depth options in the lineup whenever her number is called.
Dominant offensively across the board
Idaho State leads the Big Sky Conference in multiple offensive categories this season. The Bengals are hitting .315 as a team with a .395 on-base percentage and .555 slugging percentage, and have produced 53 home runs, 261 runs, 335 hits, 79 doubles, 240 RBI, and 129 walks through 42 games.
Early leads, consistent results
Idaho State has been dominant when getting in front first. The Bengals are 24-1 when leading after four innings, 25-0 when leading after six, and 24-5 when scoring first. Conversely they are 1-10 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.
Winning the hit column
When Idaho State out-hits its opponent, it wins. The Bengals are 22-0 when recording more hits than the opposing team and just 4-13 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 11 wins across 83.2 innings with six complete games and a 2.76 ERA. Goluskin carries a 2.89 ERA across 70.1 innings with a team-high 56 strikeouts and eight wins. Together they have combined for ten complete games and account for 19 of Idaho State's 27 wins on the season.
Yee torching the conference
Alyssa Yee has been nearly unstoppable in Big Sky Conference play, hitting .650 with a 1.500 slugging percentage and .696 on-base percentage through six conference games. Yee has collected 13 hits in 20 at-bats with four home runs, 12 RBI, and four stolen bases in league play, establishing herself as the most dangerous hitter in the conference when it matters most.
Another gear in conference play
Idaho State's offense has shifted into a higher gear in Big Sky Conference games. The Bengals are hitting .368 as a team in conference play with a .697 slugging percentage, compared to .315 and .555 in overall play. The team has scored 45 runs in six conference games and hit 12 home runs, averaging 7.5 runs and two home runs per conference contest.
Aguinaga locked in for league play
Kasey Aguinaga has been dominant in Big Sky Conference games, posting a 0.95 ERA with a 3-0 record across 14.2 innings. Aguinaga has allowed just two earned runs in conference play while holding opposing hitters to a .246 average, giving Idaho State its most reliable arm in the biggest games of the season.
Doubles machine
Idaho State ranks fourth nationally in doubles with 78 on the season, trailing only Virginia Tech (85) among all Division I programs. Alyssa Yee leads the way at sixth nationally with 15 doubles, while Ava Brown and Jenna Kearns each have 10. The Bengals are also 24th nationally in doubles per game at 1.86, giving them one of the most prolific extra-base hit profiles in the country.
Portland State Series
Idaho State took two of three from Portland State in its second Big Sky Conference series of the season, winning 10-7 and 4-2 before dropping the middle game 4-9. Over the three-game stretch the Bengals hit .311 as a team with 23 hits, 18 runs, and five home runs, slugging .595 with nine extra-base hits. Idaho State outscored Portland State 18-18 across the series and held opponents to a .262 batting average.
Kira Day led the offense over the three games, hitting .500 with four hits, two doubles, and two RBI in eight at-bats while posting a .750 slugging percentage. Alyssa Yee hit .500 with four hits, one double, two home runs, three RBI, and two stolen bases across eight at-bats with a 1.375 slugging percentage. Olivia Robison matched that average at .500 with four hits, two home runs, and five RBI in eight at-bats, slugging 1.250. Jaden Moore hit .375 with three hits and an RBI across eight at-bats, and Jenna Kearns added a .286 average with two hits, a triple, a home run, and three RBI.
Idaho State scored three runs in the first inning across the series and put up eight runs in the third inning, its most productive frame of the weekend. The Bengals drew 13 walks as a team over the three games, continuing to generate traffic on the bases.
In the circle, Kasey Aguinaga was the anchor of the series, going 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA across 8.2 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .194 average. Lizzy Tommasini made two appearances without a decision, posting a 3.50 ERA across 4.0 innings and earning a save. As a staff Idaho State pitchers combined for a 6.00 ERA across 21.0 innings with 16 strikeouts, holding Portland State to a .262 batting average over the three-game series.
Scouting the Bears
Northern Colorado enters the series at 18-20 overall and 4-2 in Big Sky Conference play, riding a two-game winning streak after taking two of three at Montana on April 3-4. The Bears are 7-7 at home and 5-9 in true road games, making them a more competitive opponent in Greeley than on the road. Northern Colorado opened conference play by splitting with Sacramento State before rallying to win the Montana series, showing the ability to respond after dropping the opener. The Bears have gone 4-2 in conference play despite an overall record that reflects a difficult non-conference schedule that included losses to UCLA, Grand Canyon, Colorado State, and South Dakota State.
Northern Colorado is hitting .304 as a team with 185 runs scored and a .480 slugging percentage through 38 games. The offense is anchored by Amailee Morales, who leads the Big Sky Conference in batting average at .436 with 51 hits, 15 doubles, four home runs, and 19 RBI while posting a .538 on-base percentage across 38 starts. Ella Gonzales adds a .395 average with 12 doubles, four home runs, and 27 RBI, and Katie Walling contributes a .387 average with nine stolen bases and 25 RBI. Hayden Nelson provides the most power in the order, hitting .337 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI. KK Christie rounds out a deep and balanced lineup at .310 with 15 doubles, three home runs, and 19 RBI while drawing 21 walks. As a unit the Bears have drawn 116 walks and posted a .382 on-base percentage, consistently putting traffic on the bases throughout the lineup.
In the circle Northern Colorado carries a 6.09 team ERA across 244.2 innings with 121 strikeouts and 101 walks allowed. Anna Wilming is the staff workhorse, going 9-7 with a 5.21 ERA across 98.0 innings in 17 starts, posting 53 strikeouts with seven complete games. Grace Algrim has made 20 appearances with a 5.30 ERA across 64.2 innings and three saves, and Ellyse Hydock has contributed 54.0 innings with a 7.13 ERA and two saves. Opponents are hitting .340 against the Northern Colorado staff with 47 home runs allowed, and the Bears have committed 40 errors in 38 games for a .962 team fielding percentage. Opponents have attempted 47 stolen bases against Northern Colorado catchers, going 37-for-47 on the season, a potential area for Idaho State to be active 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
- 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
On Deck
The Bengals are back home next week for a single game with Boise State on Tuesday, followed by the final home Big Sky series of the season against the Sacramento State Hornets. First Pitch on Tuesday is set for 4:00 PM MT.
