April 13, 2010
Box Score
Complete Stat Packet: Game 1 - Boise State 4, Idaho State 3 
Complete Stat Packet: Game 1 - Boise State 6, Idaho State 4
Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State got the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the seventh in both games of their Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with Boise State, but they couldn't capitalize either time, and the Broncos swept the first leg of the home-and-home Tuesday rivalry with 4-3 and 6-4 wins. The Bengals and Broncos will continue the series in Boise next Tuesday at 2 and 4 pm.
The Bengals scrapped for most of the day, and they nearly scored a big comeback win in both games, but BSU got a key strikeout with the tying and winning runs on to end each game. In the opener, Boise State led 4-1 with none out and two on in the third inning when Nora Maschue entered the game in the circle and shut down the Broncos without a run over her five innings.
ISU mounted a late comeback down 4-1 in the sixth. Desirae Hoffman singled to shortstop, and then Megan Miller singled to right, and the ball scooted past Heather Bourke for a two-base error, allowing Hoffman to score. Miller eventually came home on a Jen Martensen groundout, making it 4-3.
After Maschue got the Broncos in the seventh, ISU made one last gasp. After Terah Blackwell grounded out and Jocelyn Horton lined to third, Emily Hu singled to second, and Taylor Marchione hit one through the left side. Both runners moved up on a passed ball, and Desirae Hoffman, who entered the game leading the Pacific Coast Softball Conference in hitting, came to the plate, but she was caught looking to end the game.
In game two, Maschue allowed two runs in the first, but ISU fought back with four in the second. ISU loaded the bases with one out on an error and back-to-back singles by Brittany Olsin and Blackwell, and Horton drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Emily Hu reached on an infield single, and Taylor Marchione, who leads ISU with nine doubles, hit a bases clearing triple, making it 4-2. Lela Work came in to relieve Aubray Zell at that point, and shut ISU down, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just three hits and striking out eight.
Boise State fought back and tied it in the fourth off of Maschue and Clesson, who came in to relieve. Maschue walked Megan Harvey to open the inning, Maghan Yurek singled, and Ashley Viers-Gordillo walked to load the bases with none out, and Clesson came in and allowed a two-run single to Tazz Weatherly, but she beared down and held BSU from there, keeping the game knotted at 4-4.
BSU left the bases loaded in the fifth, and loaded them again in the sixth, and finally scratched a run across. With the bases loaded and one out, pinch hitter Allie Crump grounded to Martensen, who stepped on third for an out, and then elected to throw home to try and catch Kathy Cox, but she slid in under the tag.
Boise State then added one more in the seventh on a pinch hit single by Leaha Hill. Clesson again limited the damage, stranding two runners in scoring position.
ISU then again made another late charge, only to come up empty again. Horton popped up to start the inning, but Hu singled and Marchione singled as well, and both runners moved up on an error. With the tying run at second base, Work got Hoffman to fly out to left. Then BSU coach Erin Thorpe went against the book and with first base open, she elected to walk Megan Miller, putting the winning run on base, but it worked when Work struck out Erin Olander to end the game.
The Bengals played their fifth straight game decided by two runs or less, and they now ready themselves to host Northern Colorado in a pair of doubleheaders, starting at noon both Saturday and Sunday at Rainey Park. ISU will have festivities for children with face painting and cotton candy and prizes for children starting at 11:00 am at Rainey.
NOTES: Boise State leads the all-time series 8-1 ... Taylor Marchione ran her hitting streak to 13 straight games ... Brittany Olsin hit a triple in game one that landed in front of left fielder Kate Caplin and skidded past her to the fence on a bizarre hop ... BSU pitchers racked up 18 strikeouts, nine in each game ... Megan Miller broke the career at bats record, and assuming she plays in every game this weekend, will break the career games played record on Sunday ... BSU had nine hits in each game, and ISU had seven in each game ... BSU stole nine bases.
