By Angie Christiaens
Last Thursday Boise State’s softball team (9-13, 0-0 in MW) traveled to Tucson, Ariz. to compete in three games against No. 16 ranked Arizona, losing all three 9-5, 14-4 and 10-2.
The opener on Thursday became the closest game of the weekend with Mackenzie Whyte batting powerfully to gain two of the
five runs.
Boise State’s Sarah Barnes, Tara Glover and Holly Bourke each pitched in one run to compete
with Arizona.
Yet, the batting power behind Arizona’s Hallie Wilson proved to be too much as she connected well to give the Wildcats three runs out of three at bat, which led to a 9-5 score in favor of the Wildcats.
The Wildcats kept their momentum in Saturday’s game too, connecting well against Bronco pitcher Kenzie Cole, as they scored 11 runs in the first and second innings, in which nine of those runs in the second
inning alone.
However, great pitching in the third inning kept Arizona scoreless with one strikeout by Cole. It wasn’t until the fourth inning when Whyte homered to left field to boost Boise State’s score by one run, but Arizona scored two runs to maintain their long lead.
At the top of the fifth inning, Boise State put up only one more run to make the final score 4-14.
Later that night, the Broncos battled against the Wildcats in their final game. At the top of the first inning, Makenna Weir and Bourke both scored to put the first scores on the board at 2-0. Arizona only had one run in the first inning giving Boise State the lead.
Both teams went scoreless until the third inning where Arizona had two homeruns and one unearned score to put the lead to 5-2.
Boise State pitcher Lela Work struggled in the bottom of the fourth, allowing two more homeruns and eventually gave her mound over to Rebecca Patton.
Patton gave up another home run but came together to pitch two strikeouts to end the inning.
At the top of the fifth inning, Boise State couldn’t connect at all and ended the game with a strikeout putting the final score at 10-2.
Boise State will compete next in their first home series, the SpringHill Suites Invitational, starting on Friday, March 15.
The Broncos will play a total of six games throughout the weekend at 2 and 4 p.m. each day. They will open up at Donna Larsen Park competing against Utah State
at 2 p.m.
