POCATELLO, Idaho -- Both teams scored runs in every inning, but Idaho State had three huge frames on the way to a 16-8 win over Sacramento State in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game Thursday afternoon at Miller Ranch Stadium.
Idaho State (37-18), which has one of the top offenses in the nation, wins its first-ever Big Sky Tournament championship and will represent the league at NCAA Regionals. Selections for the tournament will be made on Sunday.
Sacramento State (33-20) sees its season come to a close as the Hornets went 3-2 at the four-day conference tournament. The Hornets, who were the No. 3 seed, defeated Portland State, Northern Colorado and Montana, but lost both games to Idaho State. The No. 1 seed Bengals, who received a first round bye, went 3-0 at the tourney.
Though the Hornets' season comes to an end, it was a season to remember:
• 33 wins - Most since 2006
• .623 win% - 4th best in Div. I era
• Lost more than 2 straight games just once
• 9 straight wins (Feb. 14-27)
• 12-1 on neutral fields
• All six pitchers with records above .500
• 62 home runs - 2nd in program history
• .503 slg% - 2nd in program history
• 59 stolen bases - 2nd in program history
• 269 runs - 3rd in program history
• .302 batting avg - 4th in program history
• 7 all-conference selections
Sacramento State had three all-tournament selections - shortstop
Madi Mendoza, center fielder
Saskia Raab and third baseman
Madison Evers-Lyles.
The Hornets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but Idaho State responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. While Sacramento State scored two runs in three different innings, and single runs in the second and fifth, Idaho State put up big numbers in the first (5), second (4) and third (5) to put things away. The Bengals tacked on two in the fourth, and combined for 13 hits off five Hornet pitchers.
Raab, Evers-Lyles,
Malissa George and
Erin Garcia each had multiple-hit games. George collected her first career multi-home run game, going 2-for-2 with two bombs, a walk, two runs and three RBIs. Mendoza also homered and finished the season on a career-best 15-game hitting streak.
Raab also homered, and was part of a Sacramento State offensive attack that collected 13 home runs during the tournament. Five Hornets had RBIs in the game, including George (3), Mendoza (2), Raab (1), Evers-Lyles (1) and Garcia (1). Sacramento State finished the game with 10 hits, and four homers. Idaho State had 13 hits and two homers.
