THROUGH THE LENS: Idaho State softball secures Big Sky Conference crown, primed for first tourney championship

POCATELLO — The Idaho State Bengals have never won a conference tournament championship, despite having claimed five regular season titles. But the 2025 team appears primed to end that drought.

The Bengals’ juggernaut offense leads the Big Sky Conference in batting average (.301), runs (277), hits (471), home runs (40), extra-base hits (137), RBIs (253), total bases (698), slugging percentage (.445), on-base percentage (.362) and stolen bases (78).

Led by Boise State transfer Kasey Aguinaga (14-5, 2.85 ERA), and the conference’s top defense, the ISU pitching staff boasts a 3.91 team ERA with eight shutouts.

Put it all together and you get the Big Sky’s regular season champs, the first Bengal team to reach the 30-win mark in a decade — just three wins shy of the all-time program record of 35 wins in a season.

ISU has just four games left in the regular season before the start of the Big Sky Conference Tournament — beginning May 6 at Northern Colorado. The Bengals (32-13, 11-1) will have the top seed when the tourney starts. A win will push ISU into the NCAA Tournament — where they are in line for a potential top-half seed.

Here are our best pictures from the conference-clinching win at home against Montana, Saturday.

By virtue of its regular season championship, Idaho State University will host the Big Sky Conference Tournament next season.