The Idaho State softball team outscored Northern Colorado 25-10 Friday in a Big Sky Conference doubleheader sweep of the Bears at Gloria Rodriguez Field in Greeley.
Idaho State ended UNC’s seven-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory in Game 1. The Bengals then broke open a one-run game with a seven-run fourth inning for a 20-7 win in Game 2.
The teams are scheduled to return to Rodriguez Field for the third and final game of the series beginning at noon Saturday.
The series is the final home series of the season for UNC, which swept Big Sky opponents Montana and Weber State the last two weekends to move to the top of the conference standings.
As of Friday night, UNC was tied with Weber State for first in the conference at 7-4. Idaho State and Portland State were in second place with 5-3 records. UNC (23-21 overall) plays its final Big Sky series April 26-27 at Portland State.
UNC scored a run in the bottom of the first inning of both games to take an early lead. The Bengals rallied with multiple runs in an inning of both games to earn the wins.
In Game 1, Idaho State (22-22) scored three times in the top of the second and added a run each in the third and sixth innings.
The Bengals scored five runs off Bears starting pitcher Isabelle DiNapoli in the fourth of Game 2 and led 9-4 at the end of the inning. Idaho State padded its lead in the fifth with three runs on two hits off reliever Grace Algrim.
Senior Erin Caviness (13-7) took the loss for UNC in the first game. DiNapoli (7-6) took the loss in Game 2 after throwing 3 1/3 innings.
Lauren Strathearn had two hits and a stolen base in Game 1 and Quinn Myers-Lenz added a double and two RBI. Nya Chacon had two hits with a double and four RBI in Game 2.
