Broncos Blank Grand Canyon in Six Innings

Sunday, February 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 a.m. MT

Boise State

10-2

Grand Canyon

6-7

Boise State

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Boise State Photo Services

2/24/2019 4:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Kelsey Broadus throws six shutout innings

By: Nate Lowery

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Boise State softball team closed the GCU Purple Classic with a shutout win over Grand Canyon, Sunday at the GCU Softball Stadium. The Broncos took the 8-0 contest in only six innings, their second run-rule victory of the weekend, and finish the tournament with a 4-0 record.

The win extends Boise State's (10-2) win-streak to nine game, dating back to a 2-1 victory over Northwestern State (Feb. 10). At 10-2, the Broncos have matched the best 12-game start to a season in program history, and best since Team IX opened the 2017 season with a 10-2 mark.

Kelsey Broadus pitched her first complete game shutout of the season for Boise State. Broadus allowed only four hits to zero walks in six innings, striking out three. 50 of the left-hander's 75 pitches were for strikes.

The junior never pitched from behind, as the Broncos jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Alison Seng was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to get Kora Wade across the plate. Ashlyn Adams and Seng would score on a 2 RBI single from Justene Molina — her first RBI of the season — to push the lead to 3-0.

Molina would add a third RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field to get Isabelle Butler across the plate. That run in the top of the fifth would push Boise State's lead to 5-0.

"It was a great team weekend for the Broncos," head coach Maggie Livreri said. "We've been working towards having timely hits, and we got to capitalize on some opportunities today. I could't be more proud of the way our pitching and defense played all weekend."

Three runs in the top of the sixth would give the Broncos an 8-0 lead. Rebekah Cervantes hit a ground-rule double to center field to send India Kelly across the plate. With the bases loaded thanks to a walk from Jessica McKay, Bradie Fillmore hit a high flyball to shallow left field. The left fielder couldn't make the play, giving Kora Wade time to score from third.

McKay would score on a single up the middle from Ashlyn Adams for the eighth run of the day. Carrying an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, the Broncos needed only three outs to end the game early.

A leadoff single would give the Antelopes a runner on first, but the next three batters failed to reach base safely to give Boise State the win.

Wade led the Broncos at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort, scoring twice and adding a double. Morgan Lamb went 2-for-2, while also reaching base on a hit by pitch. The team registered three doubles on the day (Wade, Cervantes, Seng).

Boise State will take their nine-game win streak to San Diego next weekend at the San Diego Classic. The tournament, hosted by San Diego State and San Diego, will feature only teams from outside of the Power-5 conferences. The Broncos will play UC Davis (March 1), Long Beach State (March 2), Illinois-Chicago (March 2) and Florida Gulf Coast (March 3).