Broncos Rally for Saturday Sweep

Saturday, February 24

Baton Rouge, La.

10 a.m.

Boise State

10-5

Houston

11-3

Boise State

Houston

Mykenzie Hanna swings at the Maverick Invitational in 2024.

2/24/2024 3:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BATON ROUGE, La. – Mykenzie Hanna's two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh lifted Boise State to a 4-2 victory over Austin Peay at the Tiger Classic, Saturday.

Hanna's heroics came one batter after Hollie Farmer tied the game with an RBI-single. The win was the second of the day for the Broncos (11-5) after they defeated Houston 9-1. The five-inning, mercy-rule victory over the Cougars (11-3) was the fourth win of the season for Broncos against a Power 5 opponent.

Boise State spotted the Governors (5-4) two runs in the first. Taylor Caudill (6-3) settled down after that, allowing only three baserunners over the final-six innings.

Sophia Knight got the Broncos on the board in the fifth with an RBI-single. The Broncos failed to tie the game when Knight was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a fly out.

"We addressed starting faster and I am proud of the way we responded against Houston," head coach Justin Shults said. "We stayed resilient throughout the day and fought to the last out against Austin Peay. That is what this team is all about."

In the first game of the day, the Broncos scored seven times on three hits in the second against the Cougars. Three walks, an error and another walk put the Broncos on top 2-0. Keely Goushá collected an RBI on an infield single and Knight walked to force in a run that made the score 4-0. One out later, Hanna plated a run with a single and Sydney Groves capped the rally with a two-run double.

Freshman Abby Dowell (2-1) allowed one run on four hits in four-plus innings to earn her first-collegiate victory as a starter.

Top Broncos

Mykenzie Hanna was 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBI.
Taylor Caudill struck out seven over eight innings in two appearances and earned a complete game win against Austin Peay.

Notables

The Broncos have defeated four Power 5 opponents this season…first mercy-rule win over a Power 5 school since Feb. 23, 2019 (Michigan State).
Mykenzie Hanna's game-ending home run was Boise State's first in the seventh inning or later since Jordy Hutchins hit a three-run home run to beat Fresno State, 4-3 in game two of a doubleheader, March 18, 2022.

What's Next
The Broncos will play at nationally-ranked Stanford in their first game at the DeMarini Invitational, Feb. 29. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT.