Boise State Softball Team With Legitimate Shot At Conference Title

The events of the past couple of days have put Boise State softball team squarely in the Mountain West Conference title picture.  Going in, Boise State was one of three teams tied for second place, one game behind league leader Fresno State.

And, although the Bulldog women haven't lost, the other two teams tied with Boise State (Colorado State and San Diego State) have.  So, headed into Sunday's games, Boise State is now all alone in second place.  We said a couple of weeks ago that Boise State probably needed to win out through this weekend, and then take two of three in San Diego to have a realistic chance.  That they have done.  Even with that, probably the best Boise State can hope for is a playoff for the league title.

If Boise State can get it done tomorrow, the Broncos will probably be in of shape as they have ever had in program history to take home a conference title.  And all this without the injured Devon Bridges.  No matter what happens, the team has done amazing in her absence to be a strong contender with one week remaining in the season.  There was a time a few years ago in which the Lady Broncos were in a similar position.

That year, Boise State had to sweep San Diego State in San Diego to tie for the title.  The Broncos won the first two, but then fell hard in the third game.  This year is a little different, if only because it is Fresno State, not the Aztecs, who are in first.  SD State is still a strong contender, but not the dominant team they were the last time the Broncos made a serious run.

Fresno State plays at Nevada for three--you have to figure the Bulldogs will win at least one if not two in Reno.  So I figure the Bulldogs definitely have the upper hand unless they lose tomorrow.  In playing out the scenario from a Bronco point of view, I figured FSU would lose one to contender Colorado State, and so far, that hasn't happened. 

At the minimum, what we said several weeks ago holds true--Boise State must win tomorrow afternoon ( and if you can go support the team, please do--it may make the difference!), and they must win two of three in San Diego.  What could change from that prediction is that Fresno may sweep Colorado State.  If they do, Boise State probably needs a sweep in San Diego to tie Fresno for the title.  Should that occur, there is no playoff and Boise State holds the tiebreaker over Fresno State since they beat the Bulldogs two out of three games this season.

We will know if the added requirement of a sweep is in place after tomorrow's games.  If Boise State brings the bats to San Diego, I think that a two-fer is definitely a possibility.

McCray Homer Sends Broncos Home A Winner

Brittany McCray's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Boise State a 7-5 win over New Mexico this afternoon in Boise.  The Broncos are now 13-7 in Mountain West play, one game behind Fresno State and all alone in second place.

Boise State Goes Meekly In Bottom Of Seventh

1-2-3.  New Mexico bats in the eighth.

San Jose State Upsets San Diego State

Good news out of California--San Diego State, the team tied with Boise State for second, has lost today.  The Aztecs fell to San Jose State 5-0.

First-place Fresno State is leading Colorado State 7-2 in the seventh.

Finally...

Boise State stopped New Mexico, not to win the game, but after they had scored three runs to tie it and loaded the bases with three more.  Broncos bat in the bottom of the seventh.

Patton Has Allowed Four Singles And A Walk

That is how New Mexico has made the comeback.  If Boise State loses, they are likely out of the running for a conference title.  They would have to sweep perennial contender San Diego State in San Diego next weekend, and this is very unlikely.

Single Ties The Game

As we just said, a single likely ties the game, and that is what just happened.  New Mexico has scored three in the seventh.

Patton With A Strikeout

A single very likely could tie it up, but Boise State's Rebecca Patton got the "K".  Two out and the bases loaded in the seventh, 5-3 Broncos.

Here Come The Lobos

Three straight singles have made it 5-3 Boise State in the seventh, and New Mexico has the bases loaded.  Still just one out.

Boise State Leads 5-2 in the 7th

Broncos trying to get another win at Dona Larsen Park.  One out in the seventh, but two consecutive singles by the Lobos have brought the tying run to the plate.

Boise State Jumps Out to 5-1 Lead

The Lady Broncos continue to take care of business, leading New Mexico 5-1 in the 4th.  Hailey Torrez's grand slam in the second has been the big blow.

Boise State Harriers Score Three Wins at Idaho-Utah Border Clash

Boise State recorded three firsts at the Idaho-Utah Border Clash at Dona Larsen Park yesterday.

Austin Hamilton tossed a career-best 216-feet, 11-inches to win the javelin, while Matt Post won the hammer with a heave of 211-6.  Kimberly Miller won the women's long jump (18-11.25).

Action begins this morning at 10 a.m.  A ticket to the track meet also gets you admission to Boise State's critical softball game with New Mexico that begins at 3.

Fresno State, San Diego State Also Win

One less team tied for third tonight.  Fresno State rocked Colorado State 5-1, and San Diego State blasted San Jose State 8-3.  The Bulldogs remain perched at #1 with a 13-6 mark while Boise State and San Diego State are both 12-7.  CSU falls to 11-8 with the loss tonight.

Broncos Blank New Mexico 7-0

The Boise State softball team did what it had to do--win.  The Lady Broncos are not far out of first place in the Mountain West Conference, but the challenge is that there are so many contenders bunched near the top.

Boise State topped New Mexico at Dona Larsen Park tonight 7-0.  Rebecca Patton was on the mound for this one.  They probably need to sweep this series, and then win two of three at San Diego State next weekend.

Defensive Records Updated on Blue Football Through and Through

Bronco fans can see the most current Boise State Records only in one place right now, as Blue Football Through and Through is the first and only site you can view those football records.  Be among the first Bronco fans to see the new updated record book:

http://bluefootballthroughandthrough.blogspot.com/p/defensive-scoring-records.html

Offensive Records* Section Updated at Blue Football Through and Through

http://bluefootballthroughandthrough.blogspot.com/2014/05/offensive-records-section-updated.html

Sunny Smallwood Named New Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach at Boise State

Former Bronco Sunny Smallwood is the new associate head coach for women's basketball; Smallwood was named to that position today by head coach Gordy Presnell.

Smallwood, who played for Boise State from 1979-1983, is a 24-year veteran of college coaching, and has a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation.  Smallwood replaced Ben Finkbeiner, who left to become his father Jerry's assistant at Utah State.

“Sunny is one of the premier coaches in the country and success has always followed her where ever she has been. Boise State basketball just got a lot better today,” said Presnell. “We are not only fortunate to hire such a quality person and a fantastic coach, but also a Bronco alum. She has recruited first-round WNBA draft picks, top-10 recruiting classes and numerous postseason honorees. She is one of the premier recruiters in the country and we are lucky she has decided to come home to Boise.”

For the past ten seasons, Smallwood has coached at the University of Nebraska, the last six as the associate head coach.  She helped the Cornhuskers to eight postseason appearances, with six trips to the NCAA National Tournament.  In six of those seasons, Nebraska won 20 or more games, including a 26-7 mark last season.  In 2009-10, Smallwood helped develop Nebraska into one of the top defenses in school history, as they finished 32-2 and won the Big 12 regular season championship.

One of the top players was four-year starting point guard Lindsey Moore, whom Smallwood helped recruit.  The two-time Nancy Lieberman Award finalist and 2012-13 national player of the year candidate earned All-America honors in 2013 and a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

Prior to her time in Lincoln, Smallwood coached at the University of California, where she was the 2004-05 associate head coach.  Smallwood helped California land one of the top 10 recruiting classes in the nation in her one season in Berkeley.

Smallwood was an assistant coach for 11 seasons at the University of Washington, and served as the recruiting coordinator during her entire time in Seattle.  Smallwood helped the Huskies to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2001.

During her time at UW, Smallwood helped recruit High School All-American Jamie Redd, UW's all-time leading scorer, and Amber Hall, the school's all-time leading rebounder, along with All-Conference selections Megan Franza, LeAnn Sheets, Loree Payne, Andrea Lalum and Giuliana Mendiola, the 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Smallwood began her collegiate coaching career at Washington State from 1990-1993, and helped the Cougars earn their first-ever NCAA appearance in her first season.

After earning all-academic honors at Boise State in two seasons, Smallwood became the head coach at Boise High School, leading the Braves to state tournament appearances in 1986 and 1989.

Welcome back to Boise, Sunny!

Boise State Opens With San Diego

The Bronco tennis team will take on San Diego (17-7) in the opening round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles.  #6 UCLA hosts Cal-Poly in the other match in L.A.

The pairings were just announced, and Blue Through and Through is bringing you this news as an Idaho exclusive.

Boise State Signs Two to Letters of Intent

Boise State head basketball coach Leon Rice signed two players to National Letters of Intent today.  We knew about Zach Haney.  It's the second one that was news.

Montigo Alford, a JC transfer from well-known power College of Southern Idaho is that second guy.  Alford averaged 15.1 points and 3.8 assists last year in leading CSI to the Region 18 Championship Game.  He earned All-Region, scoring over 20 points in eight games and hitting 44.2% from three-point range. 

Alford played high school basketball at Summit High School in Fontana, California, the same high school that Bronco cornerback Donte Deayon went to.  At Summit, Alford led his team to the CIF DIvision II Championship game with a 28-8 record. 

“Montigo has great quickness and athleticism,” Rice said. “He’s a little different than the guards we have in the program. He has the ability to get where he wants with the ball and create within our system. He has the chance to make an immediate impact because of that.”

It sounds like, with the additions to the program, Boise State will not have to worry one bit about depth or getting tired.  We look forward to seeing the improvements to the Bronco team.

 

Tenreiro Closes Out Bronco Sweep

Thomas Tenreiro won the deciding match in Fresno, 6-2, 6-3, as the Broncos swept second-seed New Mexico 4-0.