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Weber State's Kiaira Smith (24) looks in a throw to first base in a game against Idaho State on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Ogden.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State's Jayci Finch winds to throw a pitch against Idaho State on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Ogden.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State's Taegan Smith takes a cut at a pitch against Idaho State on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Ogden.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State's Sadie Kirk rears back on a throw to first in a game against Idaho State on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Ogden.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State’s hopes of contending for the Big Sky Conference crown were mostly dashed over the weekend at Wildcat Softball Field, especially Friday in two razor-thin losses to Idaho State.

The Bengals (28-13, 8-1 Big Sky) swept the Wildcats to take firm control of the league race with six games remaining while Weber State (18-26, 5-4) fell to third place.

ISU already has a 2-1 series victory over now-second-place Sacramento State (20-18, 6-3). Those Hornets are next for Weber State; after a Tuesday nonconference game at Utah, the Wildcats travel to Sacramento for a weekend conference series.

Portland State (4-5), Northern Colorado (3-6) and Montana (1-8) round out the current Big Sky standings.

IDAHO STATE 4, WEBER STATE 2

Weber State got through five innings of Friday’s opener looking like it might extend its six-game winning streak and claim an opening statement in a battle between teams tied for first.

The Wildcats opened with a Riley Whalen triple and a Taegan Smith RBI single to score her for a 1-0 lead in the first. Sadie Kirk followed with her own single but the latter two were left on base after reaching with no outs, and those were three of WSU’s eight hits for the game.

Still, Cali McCraw kept WSU’s 1-0 lead through five innings. That included a fourth frame in which she won a 15-pitch battle for a flyout, came back from down 3-0 with a flyout, and ended the inning with a strikeout with runners on second and third.

But the Bengals struck in the sixth. McCraw again pitched around ISU slugger Ava Brown to lead off the inning and with one out, Camryn McDonald drove WSU’s Jordan McMahon to the track in center field. McMahon secured the second out and quickly got the ball into second where Kirk just missed a tag on the tagging runner there. That runner came off the bag but Kirk was already focused on Brown, who had rounded third on her tag from second base.

So when Brown slid home safely, WSU missed both chances to end the inning holding the lead. Now tied, ISU catcher Jenna Kearns followed with a two-run double to put the Bengals ahead for good at 3-1.

Weber nearly got it back in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hit queen Emma Bingham came through with a two-out, RBI triple to the left-center gap to make it 3-2 but she was left on third when Mariyah Delgado popped out.

After drawing three walks, Brown got her chance to swing in the seventh and gave ISU an insurance run with an RBI triple.

IDAHO STATE 2, WEBER STATE 1

Friday’s second game was just as painful for Weber State.

The Wildcats again took a 1-0 lead in the first; singles from Taegan Smith and Sadie Kirk led to an Abby Grundy flyout and Smith scoring on an error during the play.

Brooke Merrill held the lead until the fourth when ISU’s Olivia Robison hit a one-out double and scored on a Kennedy Dudley single.

Still, Merrill sat the Bengals with a 1-2-3 sixth and appeared to be in control, even after Kirk fouled out to end the bottom of the fifth inning with the bases loaded.

The tie game ended in just one swing. Jenna Kearns led off the seventh with a solo homer to left, ending Merrill’s solid day (spreading two runs on six hits). Jayci Finch took over to retire Idaho State in order, but Kasey Aguinaga returned the favor in the bottom half to finish her complete-game victory, inducing two groundouts and a flyout.

IDAHO STATE 8, WEBER STATE 5

Saturday’s series finale was not as close. Idaho State rocked WSU starter Joslynn Veltien for eight runs on nine hits through four innings, racking up an 8-2 lead with a five-run fourth.

Eva Richardson and Emma Bingham each drove in a run in the bottom of the fourth for an 8-4 score. Kiaira Smith, who hit 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the game, doubled in a run in the seventh for the final score.