POCATELLO, Idaho – After a season full of trials, adversity, snow storms, and canceled games, Idaho State softball is set for its final series of the 2023 season.
The Bengals travel to Ogden, Utah, to take on the Weber State Wildcats and the stakes couldn't be higher.
Headed into last week's series with Sacramento State, the Hornets needed just one win against the Bengals to clinch the Regular Season Big Sky Championship and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Bengals instead swept Sacramento State and kept their destiny in their own hands.
Two wins against the Wildcats in Ogden clinch a share of the Big Sky Title, three wins outright wins it for the Orange and Black.
Standing in front of the Bengals is Weber State, who while having a down year, has been a stumbling block for the Bengals since the 2016 season.
As we have seen time and time again this season, these Bengals will not back down from a challenge and streaks are meant to be broken.
How to Follow
ISU and WSU will play a doubleheader Wednesday, April 5 with first pitch at 2:00 PM MT and Game two to follow.
The third game of the series will commence Thursday, April 4 at 12:00 PM MT.
Game 1 – ISU vs WSU – 05/03/2023 – 2:00 PM
Game 2 – ISU vs WSU – 05/03/2023 – 4:00 PM
Game 3 – ISU vs WSU – 05/04/2023 – 12:00 PM MT
Bengal Bites
· Not only are the Bengals playing for their first title nod since 2015, the Orange and Black are doing it with five true freshmen on the starting lineup, this is thought to be the most currently in NCAA Division I softball.
· The Bengals are hitting .281 as a team with 326 hits on the season.
· Idaho State leads the Big Sky Conference with 33 home runs this season. Three Bengals have gone yard six times this season (Brown, Yee Cano) and nine Bengals have hit at least one this season.
· Ava Brown is putting together a solid resume for Big Sky Freshman of the Year. So far in her first season in the Orange and Black, Brown ranks No. 2 in SLG (.593), No. 5 in OPS (.984), No. 4 in Home Runs (7) and No. 6 in RBIS (26).
· Mailee Newman leads the conference in on base percentage. The Bengal pitcher/slugger combo reaches on .538 of her at bats.
· The Bengals are doubles machines with three ISU batters in the top-10 in the conference. Skyler Sethman leads at No. 2 with 11 on the season. Olivia Robison is No. 5 with nine and Angelica Cano is No. 9 with eight on the season. As a team, ISU leads the Big Sky with 57 on the season.
· Not only is she dangerous in the outfield, Kaylee Butterworth is a speed demon on the bases. The Bengal senior leads the team and is No. 4 in the conference with eight stolen bases.
· Jordan Schuring is sitting at No. 3 in both ERA and opposing BA (2.49 and .268). Jordan has struck out 38 batters this season and caught 17 of them looking.
· Angelica Cano has fielded the most double-plays in the conference with 17, Skyler Sethman is just behind her with 12 .
· Don't try and run on Olivia Robison, the Bengal has caught 10 opponents stealing, the most in the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals as a team have caught 15 opponents stealing this season.
