Broncos Lose Pair on First Day at San Diego Classic

Friday, March 1

San Diego, Calif.

10:00 AM

Boise State

7-8

BYU

6-11

Boise State

BYU

3/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN DIEGO-Boise State softball dropped two games Friday, their first day at the San Diego Classic I. The Broncos (7-9) fell to BYU 8-1 and Long Beach State 6-2 at the San Diego State Softball Stadium.

Boise State had eight hits, all singles, and left 21 runners on base in the two games. Holly Bourke reached base in five of her eight plate appearances.

BYU Capitalizes More in Game of Missed Opportunities

BYU handed Boise State an 8-1 loss Friday, in a game that saw the teams combine to walk 17 batters, hit two and strand 25 runners. The Broncos had a base runner in each of the first six innings but could not push one across the plate until the sixth.

Rebecca Patton took the loss allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings of work. Patton surrendered seven hits and walked three. She is now 5-3 on the season.

The Cougars scored a run in the first inning to take an early lead and added three more in the second inning, including a pair with two outs.

Patton kept BYU off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. The Broncos responded by putting the first two batters of the fourth on base, but they were stranded at the corners.

Sarah Barnes took over in the circle in the fourth inning. Barnes walked five batters in the frame as the Cougars scored three runs on one hit and jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The freshman, making just her second-career appearance in the circle, settled in for the final two innings. Barnes allowed just an unearned run on two hits and a walk over the fifth and sixth innings.

Tara Glover paced Boise State with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Glover singled twice, including an RBI hit in the sixth to get Boise State on the board. She also walked once. Makenna Weir had the other hit for Boise State, extending her hitting streak to seven games.

BYU starter Tori Almond pitched five-and-one-third innings, walking eight and hitting two Broncos. Almond managed to strand 12 runners. Five of her six strikeouts came with runners aboard. Boise State had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth and sixth innings but left them full.

49ers Score Early, Hang On

Boise State scored a run in the fifth and the sixth innings but it was not enough to overcome an early deficit to Long Beach State in the nightcap. The Broncos trailed 2-0 after the first and 5-0 before scoring in the bottom of the fifth.

Kenzie Cole started in the circle for Boise State. Cole lasted four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk. After giving up the two first-inning runs she worked out of trouble to leave the bases loaded and escape more damage. Cole needed just seven pitches to retire the second in order before being tagged for one run in each of her last two frames.

Cole gave way to Lela Work in the fifth inning. Work gave up solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Boise State responded offensively after each home run. Jordan Kreiger led off the fifth with a walk and stole her first-career base to move into scoring position. Sarah Barnes drove her in with a single up the middle.

In the sixth Kreiger came to the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and bring the tying run to the plate. The 49ers got out of the inning leading by four.

Barnes started the seventh with her second hit of the game but the Broncos could not mount a last-inning comeback. It is the third multi-hit game of the year for Barnes who has eight hits in the past five games.

Boise State will take on No. 12/10 UCLA in its first game of day Saturday, before playing San Diego for the third time in a week. The Broncos and Bruins will start at 11:30 a.m. (PT) at the USD Softball Complex, with the second game taking place immediately after.