Boise State Splits on Final Day of Wildcat Invitational

Sunday, March 8

Tucson, Ariz.

10:00 a.m. MT

Boise State

13-11

Southern Illinois Edwardsville

13-5

Boise State

SIUE

Boise State Splits on Final Day of Wildcat Invitational

3/8/2020 7:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Final SIUE Box (pdf)Final USD Box (pdf)

Broncos fall 3-2 to SIUE, then regroup to defeat South Dakota 5-0.

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. – Boise State softball earned a split on the final day of the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., falling 3-2 to SIUE before regrouping to beat South Dakota 5-0.

The split improved Boise State to 14-11 overall while it finished the Wildcat Invitational at 2-3. Next up will be the Broncos' first home games of the season when they open Mountain West play against 25th-ranked Fresno State.

After struggling to get its offense going in the morning game versus Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (SIUE), the Broncos found it in the afternoon with eight hits and five runs against South Dakota.

Boise State had solid pitching throughout the tournament, including today allowing only 12 hits and three runs. Kelsey Broadus recorded the tough loss in the SIUE contest while striking out six and tallying two walks, two hit batters, two earned runs and six hits.

Hannah Bailey pitched five solid innings in picking up the win versus the USD Coyotes. She recorded four strike outs, no walks, five hits and no runs.

Five batters recorded two hits on the day led by Bradie Fillmore who also had a home run versus South Dakota. India Kelly, Alison Seng and Serena Huchingson all had two hits and one RBI. Meanwhile, Karlee Johnson had two hits. Seng was hit twice by pitches to get on board four times today.

SIUE RECAP

It was a pitching duel most of the way as neither team managed much offense in a 3-2 win for the SIUE Cougars.

Boise State opened the scoring in the top of the third when Bella Rocco was brought home on a bases loaded walk. SIUE wasted little time in striking back with two runs in the bottom of the third to take the advantage.

Emily Alandt entered in the sixth inning as a pinch runner for Bella Rocco. She promptly stole second base, then came home when Huchingson singled up the middle to tie the game.

Unfortunately, the Cougars struck back in their half of the sixth inning to regain the lead, an advantage they held onto.

SOUTH DAKOTA RECAP

After suffering their second straight one-run loss in the morning, the Broncos regrouped in the afternoon to claim a 5-0 victory over the South Dakota Coyotes. The game was another pitchers duel until late with the game remaining scoreless until the fourth inning.

Boise State struck first when Fillmore hammered her third home run of the year over the left field wall to spot the Broncos a 1-0 lead. The Broncos extended their advantage in the fifth when India Kelly singled up the middle which scored McKay from second.

T4 | IT'S GONE! Bradie Fillmore with a two out homer over the left field fence! It's her third home run of the year.

Boise State 1, South Dakota 0 #BleedBlue Go Broncos!https://t.co/5ok5PCGkij | courtesy @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/bY09zDNWZW
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) March 8, 2020

The Broncos added three more insurance runs in the top of the sixth when Kelsey Lalor singled to bring home Isabelle Butler, followed by Alandt sending a single to center field that brought both Lalor and McKay across the plate for the final runs of the day.