Big Fifth Inning Propels Broncos to Win Over SIUE

Friday, March 6

Tucson, Ariz.

3:00 p.m. MT

Boise State

13-8

Southern Illinois Edwardsville

11-4

SIUE

Boise State

Photo by: Boise State University

3/6/2020 6:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Box (pdf)

Boise State scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure its 13th victory with a win over the Cougars.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. - Boise State softball used a six-run fifth inning to defeat Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (SIUE) 7-1 Friday afternoon on the first day of the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz.

Boise State beats SIUE 7-1 to open the Wildcat Invitational with a win. 🐴👏👏

Broadus improves to 8-3 overall on the mound!

Boise State is now 13-8 overall, will face Indiana and #4/5 Arizona on Saturday in Tucson.#BleedBlue @BroncoSports @BoiseState @MW_OlySports pic.twitter.com/wqBVuAtvwy
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) March 6, 2020

Senior pitcher Kelsey Broadus handled the Cougars' batters must of the afternoon allowing only three hits while the Boise State defense backed her up.

Offensively, the fifth inning was the highlight for the Broncos. Alison Seng's single to left brought home two of the runners, followed by Bella Rocco's first-career home run, a three RBI shot over the left field fence, as the Boise State duo drove home five of the six runs in the inning.

Head coach Maggie Huffaker's thoughts on the game, "It was good to get our first win of the tourney on a great outing from Broadus and Rocco's first homer as a Bronco was a no doubter."

The win improved the Blue and Orange to 13-8 overall with four more games on the slate this weekend in Tucson against Indiana and No. 4/5 Arizona on Saturday, followed by a rematch with SIUE Sunday morning and an encounter with South Dakota later that afternoon.

Broadus had a no-hitter going through four innings and a shutout going to the sixth. Unfortunately, SIUE did manage to get one run against Boise State's ace to ruin the senior's bid for her 12th career complete-game shutout victory. She finished six innings with four strikeouts, one walk and allowed three hits for one run. Hannah Bailey came in as a reliever for the seventh to close out the game.

Autumn Bennett recorded a team-high two hits against SIUE with one RBI and a run scored. Five other Broncos would tally a hit apiece with Rocco recording a team-high three RBIs followed by Seng with two.

The Broncos struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Bennett singled to center field to score Kelsey Lalor from third.

Up one heading into the bottom of the fifth, Boise State exploded for six runs. With bases loaded and Bradie Fillmore batting, Bennett would cross the plate on a passed ball to make it 2-0 Broncos.

Then with runners on second and third, Fillmore walked to load the bases once more. Next up was Seng, the senior sent a two RBI single through the left side to bring home Jessica McKay and Ashlyn Adams.

Up 4-0, the Broncos were not finished. With one out and runners on first and second, Rocco crushed her three RBI dinger over the left field fence to clear the bases as Fillmore and Emily Alandt — pinch running for Seng — crossed home plate to extend Boise State's advantage to 7-0 after five.

B5 | ROCCO GOES YARD! Bella Rocco hits her first home run of season to left field for 3 RBIs! There is still one out.

Boise State 7, SIUE 0#BleedBlue Go Broncos!https://t.co/5ok5PCGkij | courtesy @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/2JQKHYUfqo
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) March 6, 2020

Trailing big, SIUE managed to ruin Broadus' and the Broncos' shutout when the Cougars brought a runner across home plate in the top of the sixth. That was how the game ended with the Blue and Orange up 7-1 as neither team scored after SIUE's sixth.