BOISE, Idaho – The Nevada softball team (23-16, 15-8 conf.) split Friday's doubleheader at Boise State. The Pack fell in game one, 4-3, before defeating the Broncos, 3-1, in game two. Freshman Blake Craft (9-7) picked up the game two win and Julia Jensen (3-3) registered her first save of the season.
Sophomore Kendall Fritz (11-6) recorded the loss in game one. In seven innings, Fritz struck out five batters and permitted 10 hits. Nevada was led offensively by senior designated player Kenzi Goins, junior shortstop Lauren Gutierrez and freshman right fielder Chelie Senini, who each compiled two hits. Goins went 2-for-3, including a double, and scored one run. Gutierrez, who went 2-for-3, pounded two doubles. Senini recorded a 2-for-4 performance with one run and a stolen base. Seniors Sadaria McAlister and Sierra Mello additionally recorded hits.
Craft tossed five innings, holding Boise State to just one run on four hits and struck out two. Jensen recorded the third save of her career after entering in the sixth. In two innings, Jensen gave up zero runs on one hit and retired one batter. The Pack was led offensively by freshman Oliver went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Gutierrez also powered Nevada offensively after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth to give Nevada the permanent lead. Mello also pieced together a strong performance at the plate, going 1-for-2, drawing two walks and scoring one run. Senini went 1-for-3 and recorded her second stolen base of the day. McAlister, Haley Burda and Jessica Sellers also tallied one hit each.
How It Happened
GAME 1
The Pack jumped in front early on Gutierrez's RBI double down the right field line, plating Senini from third.
Nevada added to its lead in the fourth when Mello scored from third on a wild pitch. Then, Oliver's sacrifice fly to center pushed Goins across the plate and gave Nevada a 3-0 lead.
Boise State chipped away at the Pack's lead in the fifth, scoring one run on an RBI single to center.
The momentum didn't stop for the Broncos in the seventh. Boise State hit a two-run walk-off to capture the victory.
GAME 2
Boise State grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second.
Nevada tied the game in the fourth on Oliver's RBI single to right, scoring Mello from third.
Gutierrez's two-run bomb over the left-center fence gave Nevada the lead.
HEAR FROM BLAKE CRAFT
"We were ready to bounce back in the second game. The defense behind me brought energy and made some great plays. We had key hits when we needed them. We need to bring the momentum back tomorrow in order to clinch the series."
UP NEXT
Nevada and Boise State close the weekend with a single game scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Saturday.
