Boise State Athletics
Boise State
6-2
Mississippi (RV/RV)
6-3
Broncos Down Ole Miss for First Win Over an SEC Program
2/17/2019 2:34:00 PM | Softball
Boise State closes Stacy Winsberg Memorial at 4-0 with 6-4 victory
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The ability to rally was a reoccurring theme for the Boise State softball team at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. After securing wins despite trailing their opponent in all three of their prior games in the tournament, the Broncos again rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat Ole Miss, 6-4, to close out the tournament at 4-0.
The win over the Rebels (6-3) is the first win over an SEC team in program history. Prior to today, Boise State was 0-3 all-time in games against SEC opponents.
PAWWWWWWWLLLLL!
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 17, 2019
Broncos pick up a big-time win over Ole Miss to close out the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at 4-0! First victory over an SEC team in program history!#BleedBlue 🐴 pic.twitter.com/VSze5n06dB
"I love how our team has been tested with adversity so far," Boise State head coach Maggie Livreri said. "Today's win is a testament to our toughness. I'm really proud of Gianna (Mancha) and Kelsey (Broadus) for their team effort to get it done in the circle today."
Ole Miss scored twice in the first inning, but Boise State (6-2) was able to escape a bases-loaded jam to limit the damage. The Rebels' first two batters both crossed home safely, but sophomore pitcher Gianna Mancha struck out the No. 7 batter in the order, and induced a groundout to the circle on the No. 8 batter to end the inning and escape the jam.
Trailing 2-0 after the first frame, the Broncos got help from an Ole Miss defense that committed six errors in the bottom of the first inning. Rebekah Cervantes reached on an error with one out, and was able to advance to second on a single from Jessica McKay. In the next-at bat, Bradie Fillmore reached first on an error, loading the bases.
With one out and the bases loaded, Alison Seng singled into right field to get Cervantes and McKay across the plate safely. Karlee Johnson, Isabelle Butler and Serena Huchingson all reached on errors to score an additional three runs for Boise State in the inning.
Despite scoring five runs and working through their entire order in the first inning, Seng's single was the only RBI for Boise State in the inning.
M2 | That's a 7-pitch, 1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ inning for the Broncos!
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 17, 2019
Ole Miss goes down in order, which brings up the top of the order for Boise State in the bottom of the inning.#BleedBlue
With the 5-2 lead, Mancha would be effective in the circle for the remainder of the game. Despite giving up two hits, and giving up a walk and hitting two batters in the first inning, she would only allow five hits the remainder of the game.
The Rebels made it a one-run game on a solo home run and a wild pitch in the third inning, but a single from Fillmore to bat in McKay would give Boise State some insurance. Kelsey Broadus would get the save for Boise State after inducing a fly ball to deep left field with the tying run on first and two outs in the top of the seventh.
McKay finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs. For the tournament, the junior batted .571, and scored six runs with three extra-base hits.
B4 | McKay smashes a double into left field, but Cervantes is thrown out teaching for home.
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 17, 2019
Next at-bat, @OhBrades bats in McKay on a single for a 6-4 lead!
Fillmore advances to second on the throw. 2 outs in the inning.#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/zhlYG4qgLx
Three of Boise State's wins on the weekend came against opponents who were receiving votes in at least one of the two major polls. The Broncos will also ride a five-game win streak into the GCU Purple Classic, Feb. 22-24. Boise State will play Yale, Michigan State, North Dakota and Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mancha, Gianna (3-1)
L: A. Tillmann (1-2)
S: Broadus, Kelsey (1)
Batting:
3B: K. Horton 1
HR: A. Latham 1
RBI: K. Horton 1 ; A. Latham 1 ; A. Gillespie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: K. Becker 1 ; K. Horton 1 ; A. Latham 1 ; J. Puk 1
SB: K. Becker 1 ; A. Latham 1 ; J. Puk 1
CS: K. Becker 1
HBP: J. Puk 1 ; A. Gillespie 1
Batting:
RBI: Fillmore, Bradie 1 ; Seng, Alison 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Cervantes, Rebekah 1 ; McKay, Jessica 2 ; Fillmore, Bradie 1 ; Kelly, India 1 ; Johnson, Karlee 1
SB: Johnson, Karlee 1
CS: Butler, Isabelle 1
HBP: Fillmore, Bradie 1 ; Lamb, Morgan 1
