Idaho State Bengals Face Uphill Battle After Loss to Weber State in Conference Tournament
GREELEY, Colo. — The Idaho State Bengals find themselves in a challenging position at the conference tournament, needing to navigate the losers bracket if they hope to secure their first-ever championship title. After a strong opening with a decisive 10-2 victory over the Colorado State Bears, the Bengals fell flat in round two, suffering a 5-2 defeat to rival Weber State Panthers.
Weber State advanced to this matchup by staging a dramatic comeback victory over Sacramento State, scoring the final six runs to clinch an 8-7 win, and carried that momentum into Thursday night. The Panthers quickly established a 3-0 lead against Bengals pitcher Kasey Aguinaga in the first inning.
Idaho State finally responded in the third inning when All-Conference First-Teamer Alyssa Yee ignited a rally with a single, followed by Conference Player of the Year Ava Brown getting hit by a pitch. A double from Olivia Robinson brought both players home, narrowing the score to 3-2. However, the Bengals struggled to find any rhythm after that, with Weber State’s pitcher Cali McCraw shutting them down for the remainder of the game. Key defensive plays by second baseman Sadie Kirk, who shone at the plate with four hits and two RBIs, limited Idaho State’s offensive chances.
As a result of Weber State’s success, they advance directly to the championship round, enjoying a day off before their next game on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Bengals must regroup and secure victories in their upcoming matches to keep their championship hopes alive. Next, they face the winner between Northern Colorado and Sacramento State at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, with the pressure to win both games looming large.
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