Boise State Athletics
MARQUEE WINS: Softball
10/7/2020 2:00:00 PM | Softball
History! Broncos Topple Stanford for First NCAA Tournament Win
Originally posted May 17, 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The end goal for the Boise State softball team was never to just reach the postseason. The program had much loftier expectations for the 2019 season.
Despite being one of the last four teams selected to the NCAA Tournament, Boise State made history with a 9-1 win over Stanford in the opening game of the Gainesville Regional. The win is the first NCAA Tournament win for the Broncos in program history. This is also the first win over a Pac-12 since a 9-1 win over the Cardinal on Feb. 11, 2016.
"This is just so big for these girls — they've earned everything they've accomplished," said head coach Maggie Livreri. "This one is another accomplishment to check off the list with the program's first postseason win. I'm really proud of them . . . my gosh, I could go on for days."
Boise State (35-14) put up a five-spot on Stanford in the top of the fourth. Rebekah Cervantes led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to give Boise State a 1-0 lead. The Broncos are now 24-5 on the season when they score first.
The home run capped an impressive outing for the senior, who put together a phenomenal effort on the offensive and defensive fronts. Cervantes ended the game 2-for-4 with two runs, and flashed some leather to get Boise State out of the third inning. Cervantes was able to snag a line drive from Teaghan Cowles and turn the play to Alison Seng at first. Seng was able to tag a retreating Emily Klingaman for a double play.
"A 2-0 count is something that a hitter wants and I think that pitch, I was just looking for that 2-0 pitch," Cervantes said of her home run. "I think just being patient and like (coach Livreri) said - leading the team, showing them how to do it and get it done. And honestly, it was more put the ball in play. I think it was a good way to show the team how to do it and once that happened, we busted it open."
With an out in the inning, Morgan Lamb would continue the offensive showing against Stanford (32-19), doubling to the wall in the left field gap. India Kelly would come on to pinch run for Lamb, and advanced over to second thanks to a single from Jessica McKay. Karlee Johnson brought both runners across the plate on a batted ball that was bobbled by Stanford third baseman, Kristina Inouye, to earn a single RBI on the play.
Boise State would load the bases after Serena Huchingson was hit by a pitch, and capitalized on the plethora of base runners with a RBI single from Alison Seng. Kora Wade would add a RBI single to give Blue and Orange a 5-0 lead.
The Broncos added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead. An error in the outfield by Stanford on a would-be second out kept the Cardinal defense on the field. Adams would draw a bases-loaded walk, while Johnson would bring in two runs on a single to left field. Johnson batted in a team-high three runs on the day, and scored in the top of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Seng.
Despite a pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Boise State defense would post a strong outing on the day as they held a Stanford team averaging 4.66 runs a game to only one run. Kelsey Broadus allowed only an unearned in the bottom of the seventh, spreading out six hits. The left-hander went the distance with a strikeout and two walks.
A Boise State error in the bottom of the seventh with two outs would allow the Cardinal to get a run on the board, thus avoiding the shutout.
The win advances the Broncos to the winner's bracket, where they will play the winner of the Florida-Boston University game at noon MT on Saturday.
Dramatic Fifth Inning Advances Boise State to Championship Sunday
Originally Posted May 18, 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Playing under the lights has rarely brought any positives for the Boise State softball team in the 2019 season. The Broncos came into Saturday's game with a 2-5 record in night games (6 p.m. local time or later), and facing an elimination game against Stanford.
The Blue and Orange wound up on top of a dramatic fifth inning which could have swung the game in favor of either team. A 2-0 victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium advances Boise State (36-15) to Championship Sunday of the Gainesville Regional. The team will be met by host and fifth-seeded Florida at 10 a.m. MT, on a to-be-determined network.
"This is really awesome and this is another piece of history for these guys — we get to play on Championship Sunday," said head coach Maggie Livreri. "The first game of the day obviously didn't go the way we wanted it to. I'm really, really proud of how resilient we were and our desire to keep playing. I'm incredibly proud of Kelsey (Broadus) for her determination and staying with it. She did great."
In order to win the region, Boise State will have to win back-to-back games against the Gators.
A Mountain West team has not advanced to Championship Sunday since San Diego State accomplished the feat at the Los Angeles Regional in 2015. With tonight's win, the Broncos become the 10th team in conference history to advance to a Regional Final.
Stanford (33-20) nearly took the lead in the top of the fifth thanks to an error in the outfield. Teaghan Cowles singled into the right field, and Ashlyn Adams was unable to field the bounce which allowed the ball to roll to the wall. Cowles rounded the base paths in an attempt to score on the play, but the relay from Adams to Serena Huchingson, through Karlee Johnson at second, was in time to tag Cowles out in front of the plate.
Johnson was involved in another game-changing play in the bottom half of the inning. After reaching base on a hit by pitch, the junior was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Huchingson.
Despite there being two outs in the inning, Johnson took advantage of the scoring position with aggressive base running. She sprinted home on a single up the middle by Kora Wade — the throw from center fielder was in time, but Johnson was able to slide just past the reach of catcher Montana Dixon. Still not safely across the plate, Johnson was able to reach back and touch home plate and get Boise State on the board.
On the next at-bat, Wade was able to sprint in from second on a single up the right side from Rebekah Cervantes. Stanford's second baseman had to dive in order to trap the ball, but was unable to make a throw to the plate to try and stop Wade.
The Broncos would add two more singles in the inning, eventually loading the bases. With two outs already in the inning, there wasn't enough room for additional runs to get across the plate.
High-pressure situations would continue for Boise State into the seventh inning. Down to their final out, Stanford was able to get the tying run to the plate. Having already pitched 13.2 innings without giving up an earned run, pitcher Kelsey Broadus continued her dominant weekend by inducing a groundout to Bradie Fillmore at third to end the game.
Broadus ended the night with three strikeouts, and spread four hits to keep Stanford off the scoreboard. The left-hander has yet to allow an earned run in the NCAA Tournament this season. Â
"I think towards the end of the season I've gotten better at not showing my emotion," Broadus said. "That was my big goal that I wanted to accomplish this season. I didn't want anyone to know how I feel, and I think today was a great example of my improvement over the season."
Originally posted May 17, 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The end goal for the Boise State softball team was never to just reach the postseason. The program had much loftier expectations for the 2019 season.
Despite being one of the last four teams selected to the NCAA Tournament, Boise State made history with a 9-1 win over Stanford in the opening game of the Gainesville Regional. The win is the first NCAA Tournament win for the Broncos in program history. This is also the first win over a Pac-12 since a 9-1 win over the Cardinal on Feb. 11, 2016.
"This is just so big for these girls — they've earned everything they've accomplished," said head coach Maggie Livreri. "This one is another accomplishment to check off the list with the program's first postseason win. I'm really proud of them . . . my gosh, I could go on for days."
Boise State (35-14) put up a five-spot on Stanford in the top of the fourth. Rebekah Cervantes led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to give Boise State a 1-0 lead. The Broncos are now 24-5 on the season when they score first.
The home run capped an impressive outing for the senior, who put together a phenomenal effort on the offensive and defensive fronts. Cervantes ended the game 2-for-4 with two runs, and flashed some leather to get Boise State out of the third inning. Cervantes was able to snag a line drive from Teaghan Cowles and turn the play to Alison Seng at first. Seng was able to tag a retreating Emily Klingaman for a double play.
"A 2-0 count is something that a hitter wants and I think that pitch, I was just looking for that 2-0 pitch," Cervantes said of her home run. "I think just being patient and like (coach Livreri) said - leading the team, showing them how to do it and get it done. And honestly, it was more put the ball in play. I think it was a good way to show the team how to do it and once that happened, we busted it open."
With an out in the inning, Morgan Lamb would continue the offensive showing against Stanford (32-19), doubling to the wall in the left field gap. India Kelly would come on to pinch run for Lamb, and advanced over to second thanks to a single from Jessica McKay. Karlee Johnson brought both runners across the plate on a batted ball that was bobbled by Stanford third baseman, Kristina Inouye, to earn a single RBI on the play.
Boise State would load the bases after Serena Huchingson was hit by a pitch, and capitalized on the plethora of base runners with a RBI single from Alison Seng. Kora Wade would add a RBI single to give Blue and Orange a 5-0 lead.
The Broncos added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead. An error in the outfield by Stanford on a would-be second out kept the Cardinal defense on the field. Adams would draw a bases-loaded walk, while Johnson would bring in two runs on a single to left field. Johnson batted in a team-high three runs on the day, and scored in the top of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Seng.
Despite a pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Boise State defense would post a strong outing on the day as they held a Stanford team averaging 4.66 runs a game to only one run. Kelsey Broadus allowed only an unearned in the bottom of the seventh, spreading out six hits. The left-hander went the distance with a strikeout and two walks.
A Boise State error in the bottom of the seventh with two outs would allow the Cardinal to get a run on the board, thus avoiding the shutout.
The win advances the Broncos to the winner's bracket, where they will play the winner of the Florida-Boston University game at noon MT on Saturday.
Dramatic Fifth Inning Advances Boise State to Championship Sunday
Originally Posted May 18, 2019
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Playing under the lights has rarely brought any positives for the Boise State softball team in the 2019 season. The Broncos came into Saturday's game with a 2-5 record in night games (6 p.m. local time or later), and facing an elimination game against Stanford.
The Blue and Orange wound up on top of a dramatic fifth inning which could have swung the game in favor of either team. A 2-0 victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium advances Boise State (36-15) to Championship Sunday of the Gainesville Regional. The team will be met by host and fifth-seeded Florida at 10 a.m. MT, on a to-be-determined network.
"This is really awesome and this is another piece of history for these guys — we get to play on Championship Sunday," said head coach Maggie Livreri. "The first game of the day obviously didn't go the way we wanted it to. I'm really, really proud of how resilient we were and our desire to keep playing. I'm incredibly proud of Kelsey (Broadus) for her determination and staying with it. She did great."
In order to win the region, Boise State will have to win back-to-back games against the Gators.
A Mountain West team has not advanced to Championship Sunday since San Diego State accomplished the feat at the Los Angeles Regional in 2015. With tonight's win, the Broncos become the 10th team in conference history to advance to a Regional Final.
Stanford (33-20) nearly took the lead in the top of the fifth thanks to an error in the outfield. Teaghan Cowles singled into the right field, and Ashlyn Adams was unable to field the bounce which allowed the ball to roll to the wall. Cowles rounded the base paths in an attempt to score on the play, but the relay from Adams to Serena Huchingson, through Karlee Johnson at second, was in time to tag Cowles out in front of the plate.
Johnson was involved in another game-changing play in the bottom half of the inning. After reaching base on a hit by pitch, the junior was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Huchingson.
Despite there being two outs in the inning, Johnson took advantage of the scoring position with aggressive base running. She sprinted home on a single up the middle by Kora Wade — the throw from center fielder was in time, but Johnson was able to slide just past the reach of catcher Montana Dixon. Still not safely across the plate, Johnson was able to reach back and touch home plate and get Boise State on the board.
On the next at-bat, Wade was able to sprint in from second on a single up the right side from Rebekah Cervantes. Stanford's second baseman had to dive in order to trap the ball, but was unable to make a throw to the plate to try and stop Wade.
The Broncos would add two more singles in the inning, eventually loading the bases. With two outs already in the inning, there wasn't enough room for additional runs to get across the plate.
High-pressure situations would continue for Boise State into the seventh inning. Down to their final out, Stanford was able to get the tying run to the plate. Having already pitched 13.2 innings without giving up an earned run, pitcher Kelsey Broadus continued her dominant weekend by inducing a groundout to Bradie Fillmore at third to end the game.
Broadus ended the night with three strikeouts, and spread four hits to keep Stanford off the scoreboard. The left-hander has yet to allow an earned run in the NCAA Tournament this season. Â
"I think towards the end of the season I've gotten better at not showing my emotion," Broadus said. "That was my big goal that I wanted to accomplish this season. I didn't want anyone to know how I feel, and I think today was a great example of my improvement over the season."
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballWednesday, June 17
Monday, March 10
Friday, May 15
Wednesday, March 25
