GARDEN CITY, Idaho – Michael Hicks collected three hits and a pair of RBI as Boise State won his third-straight home series with a 12-9 victory over Niagara, Wednesday.
The rubber match of the three-game series was in doubt late as the teams were tied 7-7 going to the bottom of the seventh.
Christian Padilla was hit by a pitch to open the inning. With
Grant Gorrell at the plate, Padilla stole second and advanced to third on an error. Gorrell drew a walk on wild pitch that allowed Padilla to score the go-ahead run against Niagara (6-10) reliever Jordan Parranto (0-1).
Cole Posey sent Gorrell to third with a single off Yohn Zapata-Baez and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. After
Dawson Martin walked,
Reagan Doss ripped a double in the left field corner to score two runs and give Boise State (9-5) an 11-7 advantage.
Nate Mascellino became the third Niagara pitcher of the inning and Hicks greeted him with an RBI-single to cap the rally.
The Purple Eagles scored twice in the top of the eighth to cut the lead to 12-9 against reliever
Daniel Ferrario (1-0), but
Hunter Omlid slammed the door in the ninth for his first save.
Martin, Doss, Padilla, Posey and
Torin Montgomery each recorded two hits for the Broncos.
Boise State finished its homestand 9-2 and heads to Utah Valley for a four-game series beginning Friday.