Steve Puterski / LVN Photo
BOISE, Idaho – Two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning from Boise State dropped the University of Nevada softball team on Saturday, as the Wolf Pack fell 7-6 to the Broncos in the final game of the regular season.
Despite the loss, Nevada doubled twice to set the team single-season record with 102, one more than the total by the 2008 club. Nevada concludes the regular season at 30-23 and 9-9 in the Mountain West. Boise State finished 25-26-1, 9-9 MW with the win and placed fourth in the conference at the conclusion of play on Saturday, one spot ahead of Nevada via its win in the series. Nevada beat Boise State on Friday, 8-5, but lost 10-2 on Thursday.
The Pack was picked to finish seventh in the pre-season coaches poll. The 30 wins is also the most for any Nevada team since 2009, when the Pack won 40.
On Saturday, Nevada was leading 6-5 after a Lauren Lastrapes home run in the top of the sixth, but two solo home runs from the Broncos in the bottom of the inning allowed Boise State to come back and get the win.
The home run also hurt Nevada in the third, as Devon Bridges hit a two-run home run to put Boise State ahead 4-3 after the third inning.
Nevada’s first lead came in the third, when the Pack scored three times to go ahead of the Broncos 3-2. Karley Hopkins scored Lauren Lastrapes on a sac fly. After a passed ball allowed Chelsea Barilli to move to second, Megan Sweet’s 14th double of the year scored Molly McWilliams and Barilli.
Starter Rebecca Patton kept the Nevada offense in check early, retiring Nevada in order in each of the first three innings. The Boise State bats were not as quiet early, as the Broncos hit solo home runs in the first and second innings. After two, the Broncos led 2-0.
Kenzie Cole won the game in relief for BSU, giving up two earned runs to move to 7-8 overall. Karlyn Jones started and took the loss for the Pack, falling to 17-10 on the year. Nevada was not selected for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, as San Diego State claimed the conference title and automatic bid from the MW.