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USU Eastern Athletics

Utah State Eastern battled hard in a competitive four-game series against North Idaho College, but despite strong offensive performances, the Lady Eagles came up just short in each game.

In the opener, USU Eastern fell 7-5 despite outhitting North Idaho 8-7. The Lady Eagles responded to an early 3-0 deficit with two runs in the second and two more in the third, led by Madi Shama’s two-RBI effort. Ellie Nielsen and Jayda Spight also added RBI’s, but North Idaho’s Corine Doran drove in four runs, including a key sixth-inning double that sealed the game. Emma Walker and Allie Fowler combined for seven strikeouts in the circle for Eastern.

Game two was a wild, high-scoring battle with multiple lead changes, but Eastern ultimately fell 13-12 in the final inning. The Lady Eagles erupted for a seven-run fifth inning, fueled by clutch hits from Maddy JenningsBrooklyn Zajac, and Aly Lundberg. Jennings led the offense with three RBI’s, and Zajac also drove in two. However, the Cardinals stormed back with a four-run seventh to steal the game. Despite the loss, Eastern showed resilience at the plate, drawing 12 walks and making North Idaho’s pitching staff work throughout.

The third game saw another heartbreaking finish as USU Eastern dropped an 8-7 decision after leading most of the game. Home runs from Zajac and Nielsen, along with a three-hit performance from Zajac, powered the offense early. The Lady Eagles took a 7-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but defensive miscues and a late surge from North Idaho allowed the Cardinals to walk it off in the seventh. Lauryn Hall and Maddy Jennings each added doubles in the strong offensive effort.

In the series finale, Eastern once again found themselves in a tight contest but fell 9-8 in extra innings. The team’s bats remained hot, with Nielsen continuing her stellar series by driving in two more runs. The Lady Eagles erased an early 4-0 deficit with a six-run fourth inning, as Ainzleigh Quinn, Spight, and Hall all contributed key hits. The game stretched into the eighth, where North Idaho ultimately capitalized on a late scoring opportunity to secure the sweep.

USU Eastern (6-15, 2-10) will return home as they welcome the College of Southern Idaho (17-12, 10-2) to Heritage Field in Helper, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, August 28 at 1:00 p.m.

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