Denim Millward
Sports Editor
As the one-of-a-kind, oft-quoted Yogi Berra once said, it’s deja vu all over again.
For the third time in as many years, the Idaho State Bengal softball team captured the Big Sky Conference regular season championship after steamrolling North Dakota in two five-inning games Friday, May 1.
“I don’t want to say they assumed it but they were prepared to win,” Idaho State head softball coach Julie Wright said to ISU Sports Information. “They played like winners. At this point when you three-peat it is almost bittersweet because it is an expectation. It is still very special for the freshmen and for Sophie [Slagle] who has played a huge role in our success this season. It has been really exciting. I couldn’t be more pleased for our team and our seniors.”
Slagle had a no-hitter through the first four innings of game one and ended up surrendering a single hit and one walk while fanning four batters. The Bengals capitalized on a seven run fourth inning to stretch their lead to 12-0, which ended up being the final score to game one after five innings.
Ashlyn Ames picked up the game-two victory, also walking one and giving up a single hit while striking out four batters. Ames also contributed to the Bengals’ offensive production, going 2-3 in the game with 2 RBI and 1 run.
Senior Gabby Lopez had a scintillating afternoon, going 5-6 with five RBIs, a double and three runs.
Over the two games, Idaho State amassed 20 hits, 17 RBI and a .455 average, compared to just a .063 batting average for North Dakota.
With the conference championship already clinched, seniors Lopez, Vicky Galasso and Hailey Breakwell led the Bengals to a 9-8 comeback victory Saturday against North Dakota, capping off the regular season and senior day with a dramatic victory.
Trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh, junior Katelyn Marquez led off with a single to right, followed by a single to left by junior Michaela Taylor. Sophomore Sarah Hayes drew a walk to load the bases.
Sophomore Kacie Burnett slapped a single that drove in a run to cut the deficit to one.
Lopez knotted up the game at 8 on an RBI groundout. After North Dakota intentionally walked Galasso, Breakwell knocked a single to left-center and drove in the winning run.
Despite the hitting heroics, Wright saw a lot of room for improvement.
“We got a win,” Wright said to Sports Information regarding the victory. “It was ugly but it got done. It was a senior day so when it really counted all three seniors participated and did a good job with winning that softball game. We had a rough day on the mound. Those things happen. North Dakota is a good hitting team. They have as many home runs as we do. We were concerned about that coming in. I thought we missed a lot of spots. We will bounce back and get better.”
Tournament play will take place at Miller Ranch Stadium at 1 p.m. May 7, 8 and 9.
