IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho Falls Tigers softball team picked up a hard-fought first conference victory of the 2026 season Wednesday, April 8, surviving a dramatic late-inning rally by rival Hillcrest to win 14-11 on the road in Bonneville County competition.
The win moved the Tigers to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while the Knights fell to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in conference. The game featured lead changes, home runs, errors, and a tension-filled final inning that came down to a single strikeout with the bases loaded.
A Wild Affair Comes Down to the Final Out
Holding a 14-11 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with the bases loaded and one out, Idaho Falls senior pitcher Alyssa Smith faced Hillcrest senior Mya Weatherly — a matchup made more compelling by the two players’ friendship formed through years of competing on shared travel teams. Smith struck Weatherly out, and a fly ball to center field ended the game, securing the Tigers’ first conference win of the campaign.
“When we struck her out on that high, inside pitch, a huge weight lifted off everybody’s shoulders,” said senior catcher Eden Thompson.
Head coach Devan Thompson, who acknowledged feeling the nerves of a late-inning Hillcrest rally, was direct about the challenge. “That part of their lineup is rock-solid,” he said.
Hillcrest had stormed back from an 11-4 deficit to pull within one run at 11-10 entering the seventh inning. The Knights’ comeback was fueled in large part by sophomore Marki Chilton, who finished the afternoon with four hits, four RBIs, and two runs scored, including a solo home run. Senior Sav Johnson also added a two-run single during the sixth-inning surge.
Idaho Falls responded with a three-run seventh inning to push the lead back to four — just enough cushion for Alyssa Smith to close out the win by working through the heart of the Hillcrest lineup.
Sister Act and Senior Leadership Power Idaho Falls Offense
The Tigers’ pitching staff consisted entirely of sisters — freshman Alayna Smith started the game, and older sister Alyssa Smith came on in relief. Alayna gave Idaho Falls a strong foundation through the early innings, building a commanding lead before Hillcrest mounted its comeback in the sixth.
Offensively, senior Olivia Cordon was the standout performer, returning to the lineup Tuesday after missing time with a quad strain. Cordon led the Tigers with four runs scored and was tied for the team lead with three hits and three RBIs, including a three-run home run in the second inning that pushed Idaho Falls to a 6-2 advantage.
“She’s been absolutely killing it,” Eden Thompson said of Cordon’s performance.
Cordon credited the team’s mental approach for keeping the Tigers steady through the momentum swings. “We’ve really tried to focus on our attitude and effort, and our controllables,” she said. “Really just trying to keep each other up. Obviously, no game’s going to be perfect… So, it’s being there for each other, having the effort, keeping the noise up.”
Junior Kenley Butler and sophomore Millie Tuttle each contributed two-out RBI singles in the first inning to give Idaho Falls an early 2-0 lead, and the Tigers continued their ability to produce runs with two outs throughout the contest. Freshman Reggi Hawker also added a key line drive hit as part of a four-run fourth-inning rally that stretched the Idaho Falls lead to 11-4.
Cordon also praised the poise shown by Alayna Smith after the freshman committed an error in the third inning that helped Hillcrest score. The younger Smith rebounded by striking out the next two batters. “I think something like that, being emotionally resilient and mentally resilient, is super important for this team,” Cordon said.
Coach Thompson spoke to the larger picture for a squad that, despite sitting three games under .500, appears to be building something. “It’s culture, right. We’ve got to keep working on our culture. We’ve got to keep working on our chemistry. I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us right now. We’ve got the talent and we’re deep in talent,” he said. “We probably have the toughest lineup in our conference.”
Eden Thompson summed up what the win meant against a familiar foe. “Beating this team, especially when there’s a lot of girls who are playing on the same travel teams as each other… it just feels good to beat our friends,” she said.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Falls Tigers will look to build on their first conference win and work toward climbing back to the .500 mark and beyond. The continued development of the Smith sisters as a pitching tandem will be key, as opposing lineups gain more familiarity with both hurlers as the season progresses. Coach Thompson has made clear the emphasis remains on chemistry and culture as the team pushes forward in Bonneville County athletic competition.
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Idaho Falls community members looking for other local stories this week can also read about a new Idaho Falls studio focused on movement and healthy aging now open for residents across the area.