Calvin Jensen, Sports Information Director, Utah State Eastern
Photo courtesy of Dallin Grant
USU Eastern softball team battled through a four-game series against the College of Southern Idaho over the weekend but struggled to contain the Golden Eagles’ offensive firepower. Despite flashes of strong hitting, the home team was unable to overcome CSI, dropping all four matchups.
CSI struck early and often, putting up four runs in the second inning and maintaining steady offensive pressure throughout. USU Eastern’s bats showed life in the middle innings, with Ellie Nielsen leading the way by driving in all four of the team’s runs. She knocked a pair of doubles, including a two-run shot in the fifth. Brooklyn Zajac and Jayda Spight each scored twice, contributing to the offensive effort.
Despite collecting nine hits, the Eagles couldn’t match CSI’s offensive production, which was powered by four home runs. CSI pulled away late, scoring seven runs across the final two innings to secure the victory.
The second game of the Friday doubleheader proved even tougher for USU Eastern, as CSI’s offense exploded for 19 runs on 14 hits. CSI put up five runs in the first inning and never looked back, adding a 10-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach.
For USU Eastern, Ellie Nielsen and Maddy Jennings provided the only RBI hits, while Jayda Spight and Madi Shama each contributed doubles. Addy Hess took the loss in the circle, battling through 3.2 innings before Allie Fowler closed out the game in relief.
On Saturday, CSI continued to flex its offensive dominance, shutting out the Eagles in a five-inning contest. USU Eastern struggled to generate any offense, managing just two hits in the game—one from Ellie Nielsen and another from Brielle Sandavol.
CSI racked up 15 hits, including a home run from Abbie Banning, and put up a seven-run fourth inning to enforce the run rule. Emerson Fuller pitched a complete-game shutout for CSI, while Sydney Morris, Katelyn Johnson, and Addy Hess combined in the circle for USU Eastern.
The final game of the series was the most competitive, as USU Eastern showed resilience and fought back from an early deficit. CSI jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but CSI responded with a three-run fourth inning to stay within striking distance.
Brooklyn Zajac led the charge with three hits, while Ellie Nielsen continued her impressive weekend with two more RBI. Jayda Spight added another extra-base hit with a triple, but a four-run sixth inning by CSI proved to be the difference.
The Lady Eagles (6-19, 2-14) will remain at home to take on Snow College (12-19, 7-9) beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.