No place like home: Broncos break in new softball facility with first ever victory

The Boise State softball team finally felt it. The surge and energy that that you get when you just need a quick pick me up from the home crowd.

Last weekend the first-year softball squad played host for the first time for the State of Idaho Tournament that featured team from Northwest Nazarene, College of Idaho and Idaho State.

BSU and NNU hit the field for the first softball home game in BSU history at noon. Senior Mandy Klein got the start for the Broncos, but ran into trouble early in the second inning when she walked two batters to load the bases with only one out. Klein settled in and struck out the next two batters to end the inning and get out of the jam.

“Unfortunately today the pitches weren’t working . someone is there to pick you up,” head coach Erin Thorpe said.

Freshman Aubrey Zell took over on the mound when Klein got into some more trouble with no one out in the third. NNU’s Catherine Lowery added to their score with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom half, BSU leadoff hitter, junior Laeha Hill, countered the NNU homerun with a three-run double sealing the 11-4 win for the Broncos. The double was icing on the cake for Hill’s day as she went 4-5 with three RBIs and scoring four runs.

“I’ve always been told that if I get on base, that I’ll score,” Hill said.

Saturday morning BSU squared off against NNU for a second time. Playing as the visiting team, BSU’s Hill led off the game with a single and reached second on an error. In the bottom half of the first, NNU’s Lowery brought in the game’s first and NNU’s only run with a single scoring Haley Hevern.

In the second inning the Broncos brought four runners across home plate with RBIs from freshman Kellie Caplan, Lexi Straton and Ashley Viers-Gordillo. Hill also drew a bases-loaded walk that brought in a run.

The standout player of the game was the designated player Christina Capobianco. Capobianco went 4-4 with a single, a double and two homeruns. The first homerun was a solo shot while the second was a three-run homer.

“I think I’m really seeing the ball well and making really solid contact,” Capobianco said.

Facing Idaho State, the game remained close. In the first two innings both teams remained scoreless, but combined to leave seven runners on base. The Bengals were on the board first with a solo homerun in the top of the third from Megan Miller.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Broncos responded with a two-run homerun by Viers-Gordillo. Two batters later, Capobianco hit a solo line drive homerun for her third homerun of the tournament. In the fifth inning, Capobianco added to her already incredible weekend with a three-run shot over the left field fence.

Throughout the tournament, the Broncos showed tough defense and fed off each other’s energy. BSU had innings scoring more than five runs on multiple occasions.

“We definitely came out relaxed,” Capobianco said. “We just let it happen and came together as a team.”

Prior to the second game Saturday for the Broncos, a ceremony took place to highlight the first Division 1 home game for the Broncos. Also honored were the individuals who contributed to making Mountain Cove Softball Complex BSU’s home field. WAC commissioner Karl Benson threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

JOEY MCCULOUGH
Arbiter Journalist

Related Posts:

1. Fresno too much for Broncos in home finale
2. BSU softball opens at home with a win
3. Nevada too much for Broncos
4. Walk offs and blowouts: BSU softball splits double-header
5. Clean Sweep: Softball squad stays perfect at home