Jose Briseno – USU Eastern Assistant SID

Photo courtesy of Dallin Grant

The Utah State Eastern softball team welcomed North Idaho College for its first home games of the 2026 spring season. The warm weather and competitive atmosphere encouraged a weekend of close games.

To start the weekend, the Eagles found themselves down early, trailing by as many as six runs in the fourth inning. A few opportunities pushed runs across for the Eagles, but they fell in the end, 8-5. Jayda Spight, Lexi Hardman, and Ajla Hadzialijagic had multi-hit performances, including a two-run home run for Spight.

Needing a bounce back, the Eagles’ pitchers stepped up, striking out eight Cardinals in the second game. Allie Fowler drove in a run to take a lead in the bottom of the sixth, then entered the circle to earn the save in the top of the seventh. Charlotte Turner had six strikeouts in six innings of work for the Eagles.

The third game of the weekend started with an Ainzleigh Quinn RBI single. The Cardinals took a lead shortly after, and Eastern’s comeback was cut short in the seventh inning, falling 5-3. Lexi Hardman, Brooklyn Zajac, and Ainzleigh Quinn each had two hits in the game.

The Eagles needed another comeback in the series finale, entering the final few innings. Eastern scored three runs, cutting their deficit to just one run. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback, losing 7-6. Lexi Hardman and Brooklyn Zajac each had two hits and two RBIs in the loss.

The Eagles will next travel to the College of Southern Idaho for a four-game series. There will be doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Games on Friday begin at 1:00 p.m.