Idaho State Softball: Home Opener This Weekend

Idaho State University’s softball team will begin its home season this Thursday with a doubleheader against Southern Utah at Miller Ranch Stadium on Bartz Field, according to a recent announcement. The Bengals will continue their series against the Thunderbirds through Sunday. Miller Ranch Stadium, completed in 2011, serves as the dedicated home field for the Idaho State softball program. The facility is located on the ISU campus and is accessible from Interstate 15 via the Clark Street exit. Specific directions involve turning onto 15th Street, continuing to Terry Street, and then turning right onto Bartz Drive. The ISU Ambush, a team obstacle race, is also scheduled to return to Bartz Field on Saturday, September 28th. The event, open to individuals and teams of four to seven people, will feature challenges including a team wall, balance beam, and tire pull. Registration is currently open at a cost of $40 per person. Proceeds from the race will support students in the ISU Outdoor Education program, funding professional development conferences and program certifications. This year’s Ambush will differ from past iterations, notably excluding mud and water obstacles due to a change in location. The race is co-hosted by the ISU Human Performance and Sport Studies Department and the Outdoor Adventure Center, providing students with practical experience in event planning and facilitation. Maren Hunter, the Outdoor Education Program’s clinical instructor and this year’s race director, stated the event aims to bring together the campus and local communities for an active event. The Ambush is also symbolically linked to the Bengal tiger mascot, with “ambush” being another term for a group of tigers. Early registration for the ISU Ambush, including a guaranteed T-shirt, closed on September 12, 2025. Regular registration, without a T-shirt guarantee, closed on September 26, 2025. Same-day registration is available for $30, beginning at 8:30 AM on September 27th. Packet pick-up will be held 30 minutes before each heat time near Miller Ranch Stadium. The Ambush is a 2-mile run with over 15 obstacle challenges.