OGDEN, Utah – Behind a dominant performance by Jordan Schuring in the circle, the No.1 seed Idaho State Bengals, downed the No. 4 seed Portland State Vikings in the first game for the Bengals in the 2023 Big Sky Championship tournament.
The Bengals only lost one series in the regular season, and it was to the Portland State Vikings.
Stepping onto the field, you wouldn't know it. The Bengals exuded confidence and stoically took the field to open up the game on defense. The Orange and Black wasted no time setting the tone of the game, putting out two PSU batters.
After a PSU walk, Olivia Robison went to work, rocketing a ball to 2nd base, catching the PSU runner stealing and notching her 12th out of the season catching runners.
This past week, Jordan Schuring earned the Big Sky Conference Top Newcomer Award and against the Vikings showed why.
Over seven innings pitched, Schuring only allowed six hits, with four strikeouts and only one run allowed against a potent PSU Offense. Headed into the tournament, the Vikings had the No. 1 offense in the Big Sky with a .298 BA and averaging 5.075 runs per game. Schuring and the ISU defense held them to .231.
The Bengal offense consistently chipped away at the PSU defense throughout the game.
In the 2nd, Gracie Smith came in to pinch run for Olivia Robison, after an Alyssa Yee single, the pair forced the PSU defense into a double steal situation, and turning on the jets, Smith stole home giving the Bengals a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Skyler Sethman and Kaylee Butterworth both got solid hits off of the PSU pitchers before Yee stepped back up to the plate.
Even with a strong wind coming in straight over the outfield wall, Yee smashed a home run over the left field wall, bringing in three runs and extending the Bengals' lead to 4-0.
The dagger game in the fifth, once again Yee singled to right field before advancing on a Cano infield out.
Robison came back up to bat and once again smashed a single into right field allowing Yee to slide safely into home. The Bengals were up 5-1 and would hold the lead until the end of the game.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Big Sky MVP, Johansen of Portland State stepped up to the plate.
Schuring struck her out.
The Bengals take the game 1 win and advance to play the winner of the Sacramento State and Northern Colorado contest.
The Game between SAC and UNC was suspended due to light in the top of the sixth, so the Bengals will find out their Game Two opponent after the conclusion of the contest at 9:30 am tomorrow.
