Bengals Head to Eugene for First-Ever NCAA Regionals

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | LIVE STATS | ISU NOTES

POCATELLO, Idaho –  Idaho State softball will make history on Friday when the Bengals take the field at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, Oregon for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Idaho State, the Big Sky Conference champion, opens play at the 2026 NCAA Eugene Regional against host #4 Oregon at 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time on ESPNU. The Bengals enter the regional as one of four teams in the field alongside Oregon, Saint Mary's, and Mississippi State, carrying a 37-18 overall record and the momentum of a Big Sky Tournament championship.

The regionals tournament follows a double-elimination style bracket. For fans in attendance in Oregon, click on the Tournament Central link above for information related to Jane Sanders Stadium, and ticketing.

Full Tournament Schedule (All Times PT)

Game 1 - Friday, May 15 | 4:30 PM | Mississippi State vs. Saint Mary's | ESPN+

Game 2 - Friday, May 15 | 7:00 PM | Oregon vs. Idaho State | ESPNU

Game 3 - Saturday, May 16 | 2:00 PM | Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner

Game 4 - Saturday, May 16 | 4:30 PM | Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser

Game 5 - Saturday, May 16 | 7:00 PM | Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner

Game 6 - Sunday, May 17 | 4:30 PM | Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner

Game 7 - Sunday, May 17 | 7:00 PM | Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary)

How to Follow

Watch Party

ISU Faithful in Pocatello can meet up at Goody's (905 S 5th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83201) the night of the game to cheer on the Bengals as they take on the Oregon Ducks in the first round of the regional tournament.

The Field

Idaho State Bengals

Oregon Ducks

Saint Mary's Gaels

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Bengal Bites

Historic arrival

Idaho State softball arrives at the 2026 NCAA Eugene Regional as the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament participant, carrying a 37-18 record and a Big Sky Conference championship into a field that includes host Oregon, Saint Mary's, and Mississippi State. The Bengals have won five consecutive games entering the regional, with a longest winning streak of eight games on the season, bringing genuine momentum into the most significant series in program history.

Groves leading the charge

Sydney Groves enters the regional as the Big Sky Conference's top home run hitter and one of the most dangerous power threats in the country. Groves is hitting .348 with 19 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .772 slugging percentage through 55 games, ranking 33rd nationally in home runs per game and first in the conference. Her 61 RBI lead the team and rank first in the Big Sky, and she has recorded multiple RBI in 16 games this season, including two games with five or more.

Brown commanding respect

Ava Brown has been one of the most consistent run producers in the Big Sky all season, hitting .329 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI through 55 games. Brown has drawn two intentional walks and 21 walks on the year, a reflection of how opposing pitchers have approached her in the lineup. She has recorded multiple hits in 16 games and multiple RBI in 13, and her career .323 average across 204 games underscores the consistency she brings into the postseason.

Yee setting the table and clearing it

Alyssa Yee has been one of the most complete offensive players in the country all season, hitting .376 with 16 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 41 RBI, and 14 stolen bases through 55 games. Yee leads the team with 53 runs scored and 65 hits, reaching base at a .441 clip while providing a consistent threat at the top of the order who can beat teams with contact, power, and speed. She has recorded multiple hits in 18 games this season, the most on the roster.

McDonald on a tear

Camryn McDonald enters the regional riding the longest active hitting streak on the roster at 14 games and an active reached-base streak of 23 consecutive games, both team highs. McDonald is hitting .435 on the season with a .510 on-base percentage, ranking 46th nationally in batting average and first in the Big Sky. She has recorded multiple hits in 17 games, and her 57 hits on the season rank among the team leaders.

Home run factory

Idaho State has hit 78 home runs through 55 games, ranking 24th nationally and first in the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals are averaging 1.42 home runs per game, also 27th nationally, and are hitting .329 as a team with a .575 slugging percentage, 19th in the country. Idaho State generates power from multiple spots in the lineup, giving opposing pitching staffs no clear place to hide.

Slugging from every slot

Idaho State's power is not concentrated in one spot in the order. Kira Day leads the team with an .818 slugging percentage, followed by Sydney Groves at .772, Ava Brown at .695, and Jaden Moore at .630. Day has hit 13 home runs and driven in 38 runs in just 44 games, while Moore is hitting .402 with five home runs and 24 RBI across 43 games, giving the Bengals productive options deep in the lineup.

Front-runners by design

Idaho State has been dominant when getting in front first. The Bengals are 34-2 when leading after four innings, 35-2 when leading after six, and 30-6 when scoring first. Conversely, they are 1-12 when trailing after four and 1-13 when trailing after six. The Bengals have scored 75 runs in the first inning this season, their highest-scoring frame, making early offense the clearest formula for a Bengal win.

Win the hit column, win the game

When Idaho State out-hits its opponent, it wins. The Bengals are 29-1 when recording more hits than the opposing team and 6-15 when out-hit. That split is as clean as any.

Aguinaga and Goluskin anchoring the circle

Kasey Aguinaga and Marley Goluskin have developed into one of the most reliable pitching tandems in the Big Sky Conference. Aguinaga leads the staff with 16 wins across 112.0 innings with seven complete games and a 3.44 ERA. Goluskin carries a 2.54 ERA across 107.2 innings with 81 strikeouts and 12 wins, ranking first in the conference in ERA and 73rd nationally. Together they have combined for 16 complete games and account for 28 of Idaho State's 37 wins on the season.

Clean in the field

Idaho State has been one of the most reliable defensive teams in the Big Sky Conference all season, posting a .969 fielding percentage that ranks 68th nationally and first in the league. The correlation between clean defense and winning has been consistent throughout the year. The Bengals are 22-6 when committing zero errors and 10-5 with one error, but fall to 5-7 when committing two or more. Limiting miscues has been just as important to the Bengal formula as generating offense.

McDonald anchoring the infield

Camryn McDonald has been one of the most productive defensive players in the conference all season, ranking 76th nationally and second in the Big Sky with 113 assists. Her 2.17 assists per game rank 81st in the country, trailing only Sacramento State's Madi Mendoza in conference play. McDonald's range and consistency at second base have been a stabilizing force for a Bengal defense that ranks first in the Big Sky in fielding percentage.

Hits up and down the order

Idaho State's multi-hit production is not dependent on one or two players carrying the load. Six different Bengals have recorded 10 or more multi-hit games this season, led by Alyssa Yee with 18, Camryn McDonald with 17, Ava Brown with 16, Sydney Groves with 14, Jenna Kearns with 13, and Kira Day with 10. That kind of depth across the lineup makes Idaho State difficult to neutralize with a single defensive adjustment.

Set the tone early

Idaho State's record when scoring first versus allowing the opponent to score first tells a clear story about how the Bengals are built to win. The Bengals are 30-6 when they score first and just 7-12 when the opponent gets on the board ahead of them. With 75 first-inning runs scored on the season, Idaho State has made the opening frame its most productive of the game, and the ability to establish the tone early figures to be a central factor against a regional field that includes high-caliber pitching.

Quick Look -  Oregon Ducks

Oregon enters the 2026 NCAA Eugene Regional at 40-12 overall and 20-4 in Big Ten play under eighth-year head coach Melyssa Lombardi, the 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year. The Ducks are 21-2 at Jane Sanders Stadium this season and will have the full home-field advantage in Eugene. Oregon dropped two of its last three games, including a first-round exit at the Big Ten Tournament, but its resume includes wins over ranked opponents Texas A&M, South Carolina, and Washington.

Oregon is hitting .331 as a team with 67 home runs, a .554 slugging percentage, and a .417 on-base percentage across 52 games. Elon Butler leads the offense at .413 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, a .900 slugging percentage, and 34 walks against just 23 strikeouts. Amari Harper hits .404 with 15 home runs, 49 RBI, and has reached base at a .516 clip after drawing 29 walks and being hit by pitch 10 times. Emma Cox (.336, 11 HR, 54 RBI) adds power from behind the plate, while Kaylynn Jones (.346, 5 HR, 29 RBI) and Ayanna Shaw (.346, 14 SB) give the Ducks additional production and speed throughout the order.

Lyndsey Grein anchors the pitching staff at 23-6 with a 2.73 ERA, 195 strikeouts, and eight complete games across 161.2 innings. Elise Sokolsky (8-3, 4.04) adds 78.0 innings and four saves, with Taylour Spencer (8-3, 4.78) providing additional depth. The staff has issued 126 walks on the season across 342.2 innings, holding opponents to a .231 average. Oregon fields at .967 with 47 errors on the season.

Series History – ISU vs Oregon

Idaho State and Oregon meet for the 11th time in program history with the Ducks holding the advantage in the all-time series. Oregon leads 10-1, with the Bengals' only win coming at a neutral site tournament in Reno, Nevada on April 15, 1983. The Bengals won the game 2-0. Idaho State is 0-8 in games played at Oregon, with the Ducks winning by a combined margin that includes five shutouts in the series. The two programs also met earlier this season at Jane Sanders Stadium during the Oregon Classic on Feb. 27, with Oregon taking a 4-3 decision in an extra-inning, eight-inning thriller.

Common Opponents – ISU & Oregon

Idaho State and Oregon share four common opponents in the 2026 season. Against Sacramento State, Oregon went 2-0 with wins of 7-6 and 2-1, while Idaho State went 4-1 with regular season results of a 7-5 win, an 8-0 win in six innings, and a 7-8 loss in eight innings, before going 2-0 against the Hornets in the Big Sky Tournament. Against Stetson, Oregon went 2-0 with wins of 10-1 and 4-1, while Idaho State went 1-1 with a 5-2 win and a 2-7 loss in six innings. Against Samford, Oregon went 2-0 with wins of 8-0 and 18-2, while Idaho State went 1-1 with a 13-4 win in six innings and a 0-8 loss in six innings. Against Oregon State, Oregon went 3-0 with wins of 11-3, 8-3, and 7-2, while Idaho State went 2-1 with a 4-9 loss, a 9-1 win in six innings, and a 7-3 win.

Quick Look – Saint Mary's Gaels

Saint Mary's enters the 2026 NCAA Eugene Regional at 40-14 overall and 15-3 in West Coast Conference play under eighth-year head coach Tara Garnett. The Gaels are 17-1 at home and have won two straight entering the regional, closing the regular season with a series win at Santa Clara. Saint Mary's went 11-4 at neutral sites and 12-9 away from home, with losses this season coming against ranked opponents including Washington, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Stanford, while also picking up a ranked win vs Stanford in the same series.

Saint Mary's is hitting .313 as a team with 38 home runs, a .470 slugging percentage, and a .386 on-base percentage across 54 games. Hannah Ferguson leads the offense at .422 with 10 triples, three home runs, 28 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts. Braxton Brown hits .347 with nine home runs and 54 RBI, while Sam Buckley adds .352 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, and a .762 slugging percentage despite appearing in just 47 games. Alex Cutonilli (.323, 6 HR, 41 RBI) and Camille Lara (.307, 10 SB) round out a lineup that also has 73 stolen bases in 86 attempts as a team, making the Gaels an aggressive, multi-dimensional offensive group.

Odhi Vasquez anchors the pitching staff at 19-4 with a 2.36 ERA, 141 strikeouts, and seven saves across 133.2 innings, holding opponents to a .214 average. Madeline Haun (9-3, 4.26) adds 98.2 innings with three complete games and two saves, while Ella Thurman (7-4, 4.38) contributes 68.2 innings and five complete games. The staff has issued 134 walks across 354.2 innings and carries a 3.45 team ERA, holding opponents to a .262 average. Saint Mary's fields at .975 with 37 errors on the season and has turned 23 double plays.

Series History – ISU vs SMC

Idaho State and Saint Mary's meet for the 17^th time in program history, with the Gaels holding a 10-6 advantage in the series. Idaho State is 1-2 at home, 4-5 away, and 1-3 at neutral sites against Saint Mary's. The Bengals' most recent meeting with the Gaels came in the 2025 season, with Saint Mary's taking two of three in Pocatello. The series dates back to 1982, with Idaho State's most recent win coming in the final game of the 2025 home series, a 12-4 victory in five innings on March 22.

Common Opponents – ISU & SMC

Idaho State and Saint Mary's share four common opponents in the 2026 season. Against Sacramento State, Saint Mary's went 0-2 with losses of 2-0 and 4-0, while Idaho State went 4-1 with regular season results of a 7-5 win, an 8-0 win in six innings, and a 7-8 loss in eight innings, before going 2-0 against the Hornets in the Big Sky Tournament. Against Montana, Saint Mary's went 3-0 with wins of 10-2, 8-6, and 8-0, while Idaho State went 2-1 in the regular season with a 6-7 loss, a 6-0 win, and an 8-2 win, before defeating Montana 10-1 in six innings in the Big Sky Tournament. Against Northern Colorado, Saint Mary's went 3-0 with wins of 8-5, 12-4, and 9-4, while Idaho State went 2-1 with a 10-4 win, a 3-4 loss, and a 5-0 win. Against Oregon State, Saint Mary's went 3-0 with wins of 5-3, 8-3, and 8-4, while Idaho State went 2-1 with a 4-9 loss, a 9-1 win in six innings, and a 7-3 win.

Quick Look – Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State enters the 2026 NCAA Eugene Regional at 38-18 overall and 9-15 in SEC play under sixth-year head coach Samantha Ricketts. The Bulldogs are 20-7 at home and 8-1 at neutral sites but went 10-10 away from Starkville, and enter the regional having lost their final game of the SEC Tournament to Arkansas. Mississippi State's resume includes wins over ranked opponents Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, and LSU, all coming in SEC play.

Mississippi State is hitting .274 as a team with 59 home runs, a .462 slugging percentage, and a .360 on-base percentage across 56 games. Kiarra Sells leads the offense at .352 with 14 home runs, 30 RBI, a .724 slugging percentage, and a .489 on-base percentage after drawing 35 walks against 27 strikeouts. Nadia Barbary adds .331 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI, while Morgan Stiles hits .308 with two home runs, 20 RBI, and a .399 on-base percentage across 56 starts. Des Rivera (.260, 3 HR, 19 RBI) handles catching duties, while Xiane Romero (.216, 5 HR, 16 RBI) and Abby Grace Richardson (.213, 5 HR, 19 RBI) add depth and power deeper in the order.

Alyssa Faircloth leads the pitching staff at 13-7 with a 2.51 ERA, 235 strikeouts, and four saves across 153.1 innings. Peja Goold (15-10, 2.12) adds 142.0 innings with 12 complete games and eight shutouts, posting 169 strikeouts against 45 walks. Leila Ammon (8-0, 1.70) provides a reliable third option across 53.2 innings with 59 strikeouts and just 10 walks. The staff carries a 2.24 team ERA with 468 strikeouts against 115 walks across 366.0 innings, holding opponents to a .183 batting average. Mississippi State fields at .985 with 22 errors on the season.

Series History

Idaho State and Mississippi State have met once all-time, with the Bengals holding a 1-0 advantage. The lone meeting came at the American Legion National invitational in Barlesville, Oklahoma on March 27, 1982, with Idaho State winning 8-0.

3/27/1982 N W 8-0

Common Opponents

Idaho State and Mississippi State share one common opponent in the 2026 season. Against Samford, Mississippi State went 2-0 with wins of 6-2 and 9-1, while Idaho State went 1-1 with a 13-4 win in six innings and a 0-8 loss in six innings.

Postseason Honors

Idaho State was well represented in the 2026 Big Sky Conference end-of-season awards, earning individual honors and multiple All-Conference selections across every phase of the game. Marley Goluskin was named the Big Sky Pitcher of the Year after logging an 11-4 record over 20 appearances and 18 starts, holding opponents to a .249 batting average with 77 strikeouts. Head coach Andrew Rich shared Co-Coach of the Year honors after collecting his third regular-season title in the past four seasons.

Idaho State placed six players on the All-Big Sky First Team, with Jenna Kearns, Sydney Groves, Alyssa Yee, Ava Brown, Marley Goluskin, and Kasey Aguinaga all earning First Team recognition. Kearns and Yee were unanimous selections. Camryn McDonald earned Second Team honors, while Jaden Moore and Kira Day received honorable mention recognition.

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

NCAA Regional tournament play will continue as the bracket progresses in Eugene. Idaho State will know who they play next after the conclusion of the game Friday night.