BOISE, Idaho — The 2024 Mountain West Softball Championship is underway at Dona Larsen Park in Boise, with six squads competing in the three-day tournament.
Boise State earned the right to host by winning the 2023 regular-season title, an accomplishment finalized by a seven-figure gift from an anonymous donor in November to help install lights for Huber Field.
The No. 5 seed Broncos meet No. 2 UNLV at 3 p.m. Friday in an elimination game after splitting matchups with No. 4 Fresno State and No. 1 San Diego State on Thursday. Four teams remain alive for a spot in the title contest entering day two.
In the postseason opener, Boise State rallied in unforgettable fashion to upset the Bulldogs 5-4 in extra innings. The Broncos led into the fifth inning before Fresno State scored four unanswered runs. With three outs to survive in the top of the seventh frame, Hollie Farmer hit a lead-off bomb and senior Alycia Flores tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run blast.
Mountain West Freshman of the Year Sophia Knight singled to left center to score Abby Bumcrot in the eighth inning, and the Bronco defense closed the door. The victory marked Boise State's 14th come-from-behind win of the season.
After advancing to the double-elimination bracket, the Broncos suffered a 9-1 loss to the top-seeded Aztecs on Thursday night. San Diego State opened the game with a seven-run first inning that featured three home runs.
The Aztecs scored six runs before getting out once and finished the frame with an RBI single by Aly Garcia. Mountain West Co-Player of the Year Mac Barbara hit her second homer of the night in the third inning of San Diego State's mercy-rule win.
If the Broncos defeat UNLV, they advance to play at 6 p.m. Friday against Nevada, who fell 4-1 to San Diego State in the 12 p.m. game.
The Aztecs punched their ticket to the championship game at 12 p.m. Saturday, where they await the winner of the Wolf Pack and Boise State or UNLV. San Diego State, the regular-season champions, eye their second Mountain West tournament title in as many years.
Mountain West Softball Championship results and schedule:
- GAME 5: No. 1 San Diego State 4 - No. 3 Nevada 1
- GAME 6: No. 5 Boise State 5 - No. 2 UNLV 4 (8)
- GAME 7: No. 3 Nevada vs. No. 5 Boise State - 6 p.m. Friday
Thursday:
- GAME 1: No. 3 Nevada 2 - No. 6 Colorado State 1
- GAME 2: No. 5 Boise State 5 - No. 4 Fresno State 4 (8)
- GAME 3: No. 3 Nevada 8 - No. 2 UNLV 0 (5)
- GAME 4: No. 1 San Diego State 9 - No. 5 Boise State 1 (5)
Every game during this weekend's tournament will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
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