Thursday, February 6
Davis, Calif.
10:00 a.m. MT
Boise State
1-0
4
vs
0
Saint Mary's (Calif.)
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Boise State
0
2
0
0
0
2
0
4
7
0
Saint Mary's
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Photo by: Boise State University
Lalor Home Run Powers Boise State to Season Opening Win Over Saint Mary’s
2/6/2020 2:43:00 PM | Softball
Kelsey Broadus and Hannah Bailey combined for seven innings of shutout ball in the win.
DAVIS, Calif. - Kelsey Lalor's second inning home run powered Boise State to a 4-0 season-opening victory over Saint Mary's Thursday morning at the NorCal Kickoff in Davis, Calif.
"It was great to get the first win under our belts," said head coach Maggie Huffaker. "Kelsey Lalor stepped up huge with her first home run as a Bronco and really helped us set the tone. I also thought that Kelsey Broadus and Hannah Bailey limiting the Gaels to three hits helped our defense settle in."
With the score tied 0-0 entering the second inning, the Broncos struck first. Allison Seng opened with a double to center field. Then with one out, Lalor stepped to the plate for her first at bat as a Bronco. The newcomer from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, proceeded to send the third pitch over the center field wall for a two-run homer and a 2-0 lead. That would prove to be all Boise State would need.
However, the Broncos were not finished. The score was still 2-0 heading into the top of the sixth when the Blue and Orange struck for two more runs. With one out, Bradie Fillmore walked. That was followed by Serena Huchingson sending a single through the right side, advancing Fillmore to second. The two runners then advanced when Seng ground out to first base, setting up the scoring play.
True freshman Bella Rocco came to the plate with two outs. After taking a ball, Rocco sent the second pitch up the middle scoring both Fillmore and Huchingson for the final runs of the game.
Boise State senior Broadus opened on the mound for Boise State recording four-straight strikeouts to open the contest. The native of Albany, Ore., pitched shutout ball through four innings before being replaced. She finished giving up two hits, three walks and had seven strikeouts on the way to collecting her 36th-career victory.
Newcomer Bailey came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth. The Minnesota transfer collected her first save as a Bronco after holding onto the shutout victory for Boise State. She gave up one hit and no walks and tallied two strikeouts.
Offensively, Rocco had a team-high two hits and two RBIs in her debut game for Boise State. Others recording hits were Jessica McKay, Huchingson, Seng, Lalor — she also had two RBIs — and India Kelly.
Broncos who saw their first action in the Blue and Orange were junior transfers Lalor and Bailey, as well as, freshmen Rocco, Emily Alandt and Autumn Bennett. Both Lalor and Bennett were starters on defense, while Rocco started as the designated player.
Jayda Alaan, Julia McCormack and Alex Casas each recorded hits against the Broncos to lead Saint Mary's.
The victory was the third-straight season opening win for Boise State and improved the Broncos' series lead over the Gaels to 4-1 all-time.
Next on deck for Boise State are the Santa Clara Broncos, who like Saint Mary's are members of the West Coast Conference. First pitch in the battle of the Broncos is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (Mountain) on Friday in the NorCal Kickoff at Davis, Calif.
"It was great to get the first win under our belts," said head coach Maggie Huffaker. "Kelsey Lalor stepped up huge with her first home run as a Bronco and really helped us set the tone. I also thought that Kelsey Broadus and Hannah Bailey limiting the Gaels to three hits helped our defense settle in."
Broncos win 4-0 over Saint Mary's! Boise State has now won three straight season openers. Lalor's 2nd inning home run and Broadus' 7 strikeouts were major highlights.
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 6, 2020
On Deck, Santa Clara at 12:30 p.m. MT on Friday.#BleedBlue @BroncoSports @BoiseState @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/lQWNa5a14j
With the score tied 0-0 entering the second inning, the Broncos struck first. Allison Seng opened with a double to center field. Then with one out, Lalor stepped to the plate for her first at bat as a Bronco. The newcomer from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, proceeded to send the third pitch over the center field wall for a two-run homer and a 2-0 lead. That would prove to be all Boise State would need.
However, the Broncos were not finished. The score was still 2-0 heading into the top of the sixth when the Blue and Orange struck for two more runs. With one out, Bradie Fillmore walked. That was followed by Serena Huchingson sending a single through the right side, advancing Fillmore to second. The two runners then advanced when Seng ground out to first base, setting up the scoring play.
True freshman Bella Rocco came to the plate with two outs. After taking a ball, Rocco sent the second pitch up the middle scoring both Fillmore and Huchingson for the final runs of the game.
Boise State senior Broadus opened on the mound for Boise State recording four-straight strikeouts to open the contest. The native of Albany, Ore., pitched shutout ball through four innings before being replaced. She finished giving up two hits, three walks and had seven strikeouts on the way to collecting her 36th-career victory.
Newcomer Bailey came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth. The Minnesota transfer collected her first save as a Bronco after holding onto the shutout victory for Boise State. She gave up one hit and no walks and tallied two strikeouts.
Offensively, Rocco had a team-high two hits and two RBIs in her debut game for Boise State. Others recording hits were Jessica McKay, Huchingson, Seng, Lalor — she also had two RBIs — and India Kelly.
Broncos who saw their first action in the Blue and Orange were junior transfers Lalor and Bailey, as well as, freshmen Rocco, Emily Alandt and Autumn Bennett. Both Lalor and Bennett were starters on defense, while Rocco started as the designated player.
Jayda Alaan, Julia McCormack and Alex Casas each recorded hits against the Broncos to lead Saint Mary's.
The victory was the third-straight season opening win for Boise State and improved the Broncos' series lead over the Gaels to 4-1 all-time.
Next on deck for Boise State are the Santa Clara Broncos, who like Saint Mary's are members of the West Coast Conference. First pitch in the battle of the Broncos is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (Mountain) on Friday in the NorCal Kickoff at Davis, Calif.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Broadus, Kelsey (1-0)
L: MCCOY, Eryn (0-1)
S: Bailey, Hannah (1)
Batting:
2B: Seng, Alison 1 ; Rocco, Bella 1
3B: McKay, Jessica 1
HR: Lalor, Kelsey 1
RBI: Rocco, Bella 2 ; Lalor, Kelsey 2
SH: Adams, Ashlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fillmore, Bradie 1 ; Huchingson, Serena 1 ; Seng, Alison 1 ; Lalor, Kelsey 1
SB: Fillmore, Bradie 1 ; Mayer, Elaina 1
CS: Alandt, Emily 1
Batting:
2B: MCCORMACK, Julia 1 ; CASAS, Alex 1
3B: ALAAN, Jayda 1
SH: ALAAN, Jayda 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
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