POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State softball is back on the road this week for the Grand Canyon University Purple Classic in Phoenix, Arizona. The Bengals will take on five games over the course of Feb. 18-20.
The Tournament begins Friday with games against Cal State Fullerton and GCU at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. The Bengals then take on Santa Clara and Cal State Fullerton Saturday at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM. Finally, the Bengals wrap up the tournament with a 9:00 AM game with GCU on Sunday morning.
Only the games against GCU will have video broadcast. All games will have live stats available.
The Field
Idaho State
Grand Canyon University
Cal State Fullerton
Santa Clara
Bengal Bites
· In the Bengals 11-0 win over Abilene Christian on 2/11, Bengal Pitcher Emma McMurray recorded her first career shutout and the Bengals earned their first ‘mercy rule’ win since the 2018 season.
· Both Piper Tago and Isabella Hanson recorded their first NCAA career home runs during the UTEP Invitational 2/10-12.
· Rheanne Lewis leads the team In batting average hitting .588 with 10 hits. Shea also leads in SLG% with .765 and OB% with .632.
· Five Bengals ended the UTEP Invitational hitting over .300; Lewis (.588), Frankie Tago (.438), Angelica Cano (.412), Mailee Newman (.412) and Hanson (.313). In all the Bengals hit a team average of .324 while holding opponents to .286.
· Home Run Tracker – The Bengals have hit four homeruns this season. Hanson leads the team with two.
Quick Scout and Series History – GCU
This will be the seventh and eighth time in program history that the Bengals and Lopes have faced off. The Lopes lead the all time series 5-1 and the Bengals only win came against them in 2014.
The Lopes are on a hot start this season at 4-1. GCU has picked up wins against Big Sky opponents Northern Colorado and a walk-off win against Weber State. Their only loss so far this season has come to Big 12 Kansas.
The Lopes are led offensively by #9 Katelyn Dunckel and #33 Denae Chatman. Dunckel is hitting .667 with 10 hits in 15 at bats and Chatman is averaging .563 with nine hits and two home runs. This past week Chatman was named the WAC hitter of the week for her efforts at the GCU Kickoff.
The GCU Pitching staff has been on a tear with a combined ERA of 1.75. #19 Jacie Hambrick is 3-0 from the circle this year with an ERA of 2.15 and has only allowed 14 hits after 53 batters faced.
Quick Scout and Series History – Cal State Fullerton
The Bengals and Titans have played four games in the program’s history. The Titans lead the all-time series 3-1 with the Bengals last win coming in 2016.
Cal State Fullerton is 3-2 after their opening weekend at the Easton Invitational. The Titans picked up wins against Dixie State, Colorado State and San Diego while dropping contests against Cal and Ole Miss.
#5 Peyton Toto leads the Titans offensively. She is hitting .692 average with nine hits, two doubles and a homerun after the opening weekend. Two other Titans are hitting above .500 early in the season. #40 Hannah Becerra with a .563 average. She also leads the teams in homeruns with three and RBIs with six, and #14 Deshea Hill who is hitting .500 with seven hits.
The Titan pitching staff is averaging a 3.61 ERA. Three different pitchers have picked up the Titans three wins. #9 Staci Chambers has the lowest ERA this season with a 1.91 in three appearances and two starts.
Quick Scout and Series History – Santa Clara
This will be the 11th time Idaho State and WCC member Santa Clara have faced off in the diamond. The Broncos lead the overall series 6-4. In neutral site matchups the two teams have an even 2-2 series split.
The Broncos opened the 2022 season with a 3-0 shutout win over UC Davis at the NorCal Kickoff. They then dropped four straight against San Jose State and Big Sky Members Montana and Sac State.
#14 Emma Bickford leads the Broncos Offensively hitting .313 with five hits and three doubles. One other Bronco is hitting above .300, #3 Bailey McLaughlin with a .308 BA.
The Bronco Pitching Staff has an ERA of 3.28 after opening weekend. #64 Hannah Edwards earned the shutout win against UC Davis and has only allowed six hits against 50 at bats.
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