Boise State Splits in Sacramento

Saturday, February 8

Sacramento, Calif.

10:30 a.m.

Boise State

1-1

Utah Valley

1-2

Utah Valley

Boise State

2/8/2025 7:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophia Knight collected three hits and Boise State posted a 10-1 run-rule victory at Sacramento State, Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Broncos (2-1) were edged 6-5 by Utah Valley (1-2) in the NorCal Kickoff.

In the win, Megan Lake's two-out, RBI-single in the top of the second put the Broncos on top 1-0. An unearned run in the bottom half of the inning tied the game.

Boise State seized control with a seven-run fourth. Lake and Knight began the rally with back-to-back singles to open the inning. With one out, Mykenzie Hanna walked to load the bases and a free pass to Makenzie Butt forced in a run.

With two outs, Sydney Groves walked to plate a run and Skylar Stroh stroked an RBI-single for a 4-1 lead. An error allowed two runs to score and another miscue by the Hornets (2-1) loaded the bases again. Knight capped the rally with a two-run single.

In the top of the fifth, Groves hammered a two-run home run to account for the run-rule win. Freshman Shannon Keighran (1-0) pitched three shutout innings in relief during her collegiate debut to earn the victory in the circle.

"Shannon was great," head coach Justin Shults said. "She hit her spots and spun the ball well. "Our freshmen have gotten their feet wet this weekend and we are going to need them this year to be competitive."

Against Utah Valley, the Broncos gave up three runs in the second and never recovered.

Hanna put Boise State on the board in the fourth with a towering home run inside the left field foul pole, her second of the season. Stroh's pinch hit, RBI-single in the fifth brought the Broncos within 3-2.

The Wolverines added two in the top of the sixth and Brooklynn Pettis answered with a blast into the wind off the scoreboard in center field in the bottom of the frame.

The Broncos trailed 6-3 before getting the winning run to the plate in the seventh. Knight led off with a single and scored on a one-out double by Lake. Butt plated Lake with a double for her first-career hit and RBI.

Hanna and Pettis each came to the plate with a chance to tie or win the game, but both grounded out to the second baseman.

The Broncos conclude the NorCal Kickoff at UC Davis, Sunday. Boise State will play Saint Mary's at 9:30 a.m. PT/10:30 a.m. MT and against the host Aggies at noon PT/1 p.m. MT.

NOTES
*Mykenzie Hanna's home run against Utah Valley was the 35th in her career and moved her into solo possession of fourth place in Boise State history.
*Hanna recorded her 99th-career RBI, eighth most in Bronco history.
*Sophia Knight has multiple hits in each of Boise State's three games after leading the team with 24 multi-hit outings last season.
*Freshmen Olivia Bauer (vs. Utah Valley) and Julianne Rose (at Sacramento State) each made their collegiate debut with a start in the circle.
*Against Utah Valley, freshman Chloe Hughes (shortstop) made her first-career start.