Bengals Drop Series to Portland State

Game 1

Game 2

CHUBBUCK, Idaho- The Idaho State softball team dropped the final two games of a four-game series to Portland State on Sunday, losing 12-2 in five innings and 13-5 in six innings. Portland State swept the four-game series and improved to 17-15 and 5-3 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play while ISU dropped to 7-27 and 0-8 in league.

The Idaho State offense had eight hits on the day and Kandis Clesson took the loss in the first game, pitching two innings, allowing seven runs and striking out two. Amanda Fitzsimmons pitched 4.1 innings and allowed six runs and seven hits while striking out four in the loss in the second game. ISU committed three errors on the day.

“Mistake after mistake after mistake, we are not doing the little things well,” Idaho State coach Julie Wright said. “Terah (Blackwell) had a great day but didn't get much help. We must get better.”

Blackwell was one-for-one with a double in the second game while also walking once and being hit by a pitch. In the first game she was one-for-two and was hit by a pitch.

Idaho State jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning in the opening game. The runs were scored on one hit as PSU pitcher Nichole Latham walked three Bengal batters and hit Erin Olander.

Portland State scored four runs in the second and eight in the third to earn the game 1 win. The Vikings had 13 hits.

PSU led 4-0 after three innings in game 2 but in the top of the fourth the Bengals put three in the scoreboard to come within a run at 4-3. The scoring started with Brittany Olsin singling to left field and Terah Blackwell was then hit by a pitch. Christina Rayner loaded the bases when she walked. Jessica Baca singled home Olsin for the first run and Fitzsimmons hit a two-RBI double to left-center to score Baca and Rayner.

ISU got within one run against 6-5 after the top of the sixth inning but the Vikings put the game away with seven runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Idaho State returns to the field on Wednesday, April 20 at 4 p.m. against Utah State at Capell Park.