Boise State
2-1
Indiana
0-1
Broncos Withstand Hoosier Rally, 7-6
2/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - Boise State (2-1) weathered a late rally from Indiana for a 7-6 win, Friday at the Tempe Sports Complex.
The Broncos entered the bottom of the seventh with a 7-3 lead over the Hoosiers (0-1). On the second pitch of the inning, Indiana's Annika Baez drove the ball over the right field fence for a one-run home run. Rachel O'Malley singled on the next bat and Boise State turned the ball over to freshman pitcher, Gianna Mancha, with a runner on first and zero outs.
Mancha struck out the first batter, and catcher Shaelee Pearson threw O'Malley out as she tried to steal second. Mancha walked the next batter before giving up another single to put runners on first and second. Indiana's Rebecca Blitz drove a double into the left side, pulling the Hoosiers within one, with the tying run on second.
The Broncos were able to get the final out on a popup to shortstop Rebekah Cervantes, giving Mancha the first save of her career.
Broncos close it out! Lacefield pops it up to Cervantes for the final as Boise State holds on for the 7-6 win! #BleedBlue 🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/fyLoLNucNb
- Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 9, 2018
Boise State struck quickly in the contest, with freshman Halle Harger launching a grand slam into centerfield for the 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Harger's home run was the team's first of the season, and the freshman would end the game with a team-high four RBIs.
Jessica McKay drove in a two RBI single in the top of the third, while a double from Kora Wade sent Pearson across the plate in the top of the sixth, which would end up being the deciding run.
Sophomore Kelsey Broadus (1-0) got the start, striking out six and allowing only three hits in 4.0 innings to earn the win.
The Broncos will return to action, Saturday, with games against Saint Mary's (9 a.m.) and Northwestern (11:45 a.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Broadus, Kelsey (1-0)
L: Josie Wood (0-1)
S: Mancha, Gianna (1)
Batting:
2B: Wade, Kora 1
HR: Harger, Halle 1
RBI: Wade, Kora 1 ; Harger, Halle 4 ; McKay, Jessica 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Molina, Justene 1 ; Wade, Kora 2 ; Cervantes, Rebekah 2 ; Harger, Halle 1 ; Pearson, Shaelee 1
CS: Pearson, Shaelee 1
Batting:
2B: Gabbi Jenkins 1
HR: Taylor Uden 1 ; Annika Baez 1
RBI: Gabbi Jenkins 2 ; Taylor Uden 1 ; Maddie Westmoreland 2 ; Annika Baez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rebecca Blitz 2 ; Gabbi Jenkins 1 ; Taylor Uden 1 ; Annika Baez 1 ; Taylor Lambert 1
SB: Sarah Galovich 1
CS: Rachel O'Malley 1
HBP: Sarah Galovich 2
PO: Rachel O'Malley 1
