POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals softball team (17-15) split a midweek doubleheader with the Saint Mary's Gaels of the West Coast Conference Thursday afternoon.
The Bengals dropped the first game in a close-fought 3-0 loss before roaring back in game two, exploding on offense for a 7-2 win.
Game one went back and forth between the two teams with the Bengals never able to get a footing offensively.
The Gaels took advantage of two hits in the 2nd to score three runs, the only scoring of the game.
The two teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the game, but neither could advance offensively and the Gaels took the 3-0 win.
Taylor Fitzgerald only allowed four hits with five strikeouts and only one walk as she dished in the circle for the Bengals in game 1.
Game two was a completely different story for the Bengal offense.
It took two innings for the Bengals to get going, but once they did they took advantage.
In the top of the third, Gracie Smith led off the inning with a double, her fourth of the season. Alyssa Yee then stepped up to the plate on a 1-1 count and blasted a ball over the fence to open up the game with a 2-0 Bengals lead.
In the following inning, Ava Brown kicked it off right with a fourth-pitch home run to give the Bengals a 3-2 lead.
Jenna Kearns and Paige Simpson followed with back-to-back singles. Camryn McDonald then singled up the middle scoring her second RBI of the season.
Gracie Smith followed with another RBI Single and the Bengals held a 5-2 lead.
With the Gaels on the ropes, Piper Tago stepped up to the plate and hammered her third double of the season scoring two RBIs and extending the Bengals lead to 7-2 which they would hold to the end of the game for the win.
While the Bengals' offense was going to work, on the opposite side, Marley Goluskin and Riley Wickum worked from the mound leading the Bengal defense.
Wickum, in 2.2 innings pitched in relief, allowed just two hits, no runs and struck out a batter.
Notes
· Yee's homerun was her 5th of the season and ties her with Gracie Smith and Ava Brown (who also homered today) for the most hit by a Bengal this season.
· Yee led the team against Saint Mary's hitting .600 with three hits and two RBIs slugging 1.200% and tacking on a stolen base
· The Bengals are now 4-5 all-time against the Gaels and pick up the first win over SMC since the 2009 season (3-1 win on 3/22/09 in Moraga)
On Deck
The Bengals continue their California trip Friday and Saturday taking on the Santa Clara Broncos over three games. First pitch is set for 2:35 PM MT Friday, March 22