RENO, Nev. – The Nevada softball team scored a dramatic comeback to win 9-8 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday against Boise State but the Wolf Pack fell 8-1 in game two at Hixson Park.
Nevada’s record moved to 17-27 overall and 4-15 in WAC play. Boise State moved to 25-30 overall and 12-8 in WAC play. With the loss in game two, Nevada was eliminated from contention for the WAC Tournament next week in Las Cruces, N.M.
Nevada’s season will conclude on Saturday at Hixson Park with Senior Day. The Wolf Pack will honor its five seniors – Jessica Haight, Amanda Nims, Kelsey Starr, Sam Bias and Katie Holverson – as they play the final game of their collegiate careers. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
In game one, Nevada made a dramatic comeback to win it in the ninth inning. The Wolf Pack trailed 8-3 in the seventh inning but scored five times to tie it and send the game into extra innings.
The Pack got on the board first, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. A single by Danielle Patrick and a walk by Kelsey Starr put runners on and both scored on a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Lauren Lastrapes.
After Boise State got one back in the top of the second inning, the Pack took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second as Sam Bias doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Boise State would battle back, though, and take a lead with a big fifth inning. The Broncos scored five times with the big blow coming on a grand slam by Christina Capobianco. Boise State then took an 8-3 lead with two more runs in the sixth inning.
But the Pack came out strong in the seventh. Kortnee Wiley doubled and that was followed by an RBI double from Sam Bias. After Danielle Patrick groundout, Britton Murdock walked and Kelsey Starr singled to load the bases. Lauren Lastrapes came through with a two-run double to cut the lead to 8-6. Sam Puzey then tied the game with a two-run double to center that scored Starr and pinch-runner Chelsea Barilli.
The teams both missed scoring opportunities in the eighth and Nevada held Boise State in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, however, Sam Puzey led off with a single. With one out, Amanda Nims doubled down the line in left to put runners on second and third. After Kortnee Wiley walked to load the bases. Puzey then raced home on a wild pitch to win it for the Pack.
Katie Holverson tossed three innings of scoreless relief to get the win for the Pack.
Things did not get off to a good start for Nevada in game two, however. Boise State scored once in the first, three times in the second and twice in the third to open up a 6-0 lead.
The Wolf Pack did not have a base runner until the fifth inning when Kelsey Starr singled to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a throwing error on the play. A Lauren Lastrapes groundout moved Starr to third with just one out. But Sam Puzey struck out and Megan Fincher grounded out to end the threat.
Nevada got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. With Danielle Patrick (single) on first and Sam Bias (fielder’s choice) on second, Britton Murdock singled back up the middle to score Bias. But Kelsey Starr grounded out to third to end the inning and Nevada trailed 7-1. The Wolf Pack went down in order in the seventh to seal the win for Boise State.
