Broncos Host Idaho State for Midweek Doubleheader

Boise State (28-9, 8-7 MW) vs Idaho State (15-22, 5-6 Big Sky)- April 23, 1 p.m., Dona Larsen Park | Live Stats | Watch
Boise State vs Idaho State- April 23, 3 p.m., Dona Larsen Park | Live Stats | Watch

BOISE, Idaho – The Boise State softball team will close out the 2019 home slate with eight-straight games – beginning with a doubleheader against Idaho State on Tuesday. This will be the final non-conference games of the season for the Broncos (28-9, 8-7 MW).

PARKING
Limited parking will be available for sale at Dona Larsen Park for $5. A free shuttle from the East Lot of Albertsons Stadium going to and from Dona Larsen Park will be offered.

TICKETING AND PROMOTIONS
All fans will be offered free admission to Tuesday's game.

SERIES HISTORY
Boise State holds a 16-5 advantage over their cross-state rival – the only other Division I softball program in the State of Idaho. The Broncos have won four-straight over Idaho State, with their last loss coming in the first game of a doubleheader on March 11, 2016, 11-0 in six innings. All-time, Boise State is 31-15 against opponents from the Big Sky Conference – a conference Boise State was a member of for 26 years (1970-96).

SCOUTING REPORT
The top of the order is loaded for the Bengals, with three plays batting over .390 this season. Aubrey Creekmore (.444) and Emma Bordenkecher (.406) are both hitting over .400 this season – while Bordenkecher leads the team with 19 extra-base hits.

In the circle, Idaho State has primarily spread their innings over the trio of Autumn Pease (85.0), Kelsea Sweeney (50.2) and Mariah Mulcahy (71.0). Pease, only a freshman, has struck out 84 batters in her debut season at the collegiate level.

GOING YARD
Mountain West Conference play has brought out the best in Boise State's bats, as the Broncos have hit 28 of their 45 home runs this season in conference play. Still with nine games left to play, the 28 home runs are the second-most dings Boise State has hit against Mountain West opponents in a single season since the 2016 squad sent 35 over the fence.

With 45 home runs over the course of the entire season, the Broncos are only 16 shy of setting a program record for home runs in a season. That mark of 61 was set by the 2010 squad.

CHASING HISTORY
With 79 stolen bases in her career, senior Kora Wade is approaching Tara Glover's (2012-14) program record of 81 stolen bases in her career. Wade has stolen 23 bases on the season, and has now stolen at least 20 bases in a season in each of the last three campaigns.

MAKING PETER BRAND PROUD
In addition to the threat she brings on the base paths, Wade is already a nightmare for opposing pitchers. The senior leads the lineup with a .422 batting average and has reached base in 29-consecutive games – currently the longest streak on the team. Her on-base streak dates back to a 2-1 win over Yale on Feb. 23, while she has successfully reached base in 35-out-of-37 games this season. Wade would no doubt catch the eye of the fictious MLB executive Peter Brand from the film Moneyball.

Her streak is also the third-longest on-base streak in program history, behind only Devon Bridges (35 games) and Tara Glover (37 games).

STILL IN THE HUNT
Despite getting above .500 in conference play for the first time in 2019 following a series victory over New Mexico (April 18-20), the Broncos are still in the thick of the hunt for the conference title. At 8-7 in Mountain West play, Boise State trails only San José State (9-6) and Colorado State (15-3) in the conference standings.

The Spartans own the tie-breaker over Boise State thanks to a series sweep (March 29-31), while Boise State and Colorado State will face-off May 3-5 in Boise.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kora Wade