Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
15-17, 3-4
Boise State
18-18, 18-18
Early Momentum Fades as Boise State Takes Series Opener
3/27/2026 7:23:00 PM | Softball
Short-game execution lead the Broncos past the Rams, 13–2
Colorado State sat a crossroads. 3-3 in conference play. New series against a Mountain West team.
Coming off a hard-fought 9–8 loss to the Lobos, the Rams arrived looking for consistency at the plate and a way to regain momentum as Mountain West play continued to tighten.
Early on, it appeared they had found exactly that. CSU generated offense quickly, applying pressure and capitalizing on aggressive baserunning. But what began as a promising start faded as BSU steadily imposed its style of play, pulling away for a 13–2 win in the series opener.
The Broncos' defense immediately presented challenges, closing lanes and forcing the Rams to search for unconventional opportunities. That creativity surfaced in the opening innings with a heads-up baserunning play that briefly energized the CSU dugout. With Kaylynn English on first base and Allyson Moody standing at third, the Rams executed a planned diversion designed to exploit defensive hesitation.
As English broke toward second, she drew the attention of Boise State pitcher Olivia Bauer and second baseman Skylar Stroh. The momentary distraction opened a narrow lane down the third-base line, giving Moody the window she needed to break for home and score.
"We did practice that actually, and I remember because it was literally in that exact situation," Moody said. "I was watching her and thinking if I see it out of her hands, I'm just going. I was already halfway down the line by the time the catcher released it."
The play resulted in one of the Rams' two early runs — production which momentarily gave them optimism. Through the opening frames, CSU plated two runs on three hits, flashes of promise that suggested offensive growth after a difficult previous series.
That momentum, however, was short-lived.
Boise State responded quickly following the Rams' manufactured offense, striking back with a disciplined and methodical attack. A hit from Hollie Farmer to center field sparked the rally as the Broncos leaned into their short-game philosophy — loading the bases through bunts and driving runners home with well-placed singles rather than power swings.
"We knew they were going to bunt," English said. "They did it probably five times throughout the game. So our corners crashed harder and they took a few steps in, but they had perfectly placed bunts. That's no excuse for us, but we just need to do better."
By the final out, BSU posted 12 singles, maintaining constant pressure on the Rams' defense and forcing them to make plays at an uncomfortable pace. The Broncos' ability to control the tempo began to separate the two teams.
With the bases loaded in the third inning, Kate Penberthey and Farmer capitalized on a Colorado State catching error off a deep ball to middle field, pushing the lead to 8–2. The inning proved to be a pivotal turning point, as Boise State widened the gap and seized command of the game.
"They just didn't step off the gas at all," English said. "I feel like we did. We scored a few, then stopped and they kept scoring."
Searching for a spark, Colorado State turned to the bullpen in an effort to slow the Broncos' momentum. Coach Jen Fisher made the move from Raegan Wick to transfer Andrea Jaskowiak, hoping a change in look could reset the flow of the game.
Initially, it worked.
Jaskowiak held Boise State to just two hits and no runs in the fourth inning, providing a brief window for the Rams to regroup. The defensive rhythm improved, and CSU appeared momentarily stabilized.
However, the reprieve was temporary.
After a week of scouting themselves, the Broncos quickly adjusted their approach. They returned to their placement-focused game plan in the sixth inning, driving balls into gaps and continuing to exploit defensive pressure. Five more runs crossed the plate as BSU reasserted control, effectively sealing the outcome.
"When we were scouting this team, we didn't realize they were going to use the short game this much," Moody said. "After seeing it today, we're definitely going to expect that moving forward."
The Broncos' commitment to fundamentals — bunting, base discipline and consistent contact — helped them maintain momentum, even as CSU searched for answers late in the game. While the Rams showed moments of execution, the inability to sustain offensive pressure allowed BSU to dictate the contest from inning to inning.
Despite the lopsided final score, the loss marked only the first game of a three-game series. The Ram record slipped to 3–4 in conference play, but the team remains firmly in control of how the weekend unfolds.
More importantly, Friday night served as a reminder of what often defines conference seasons. Success can hinge not on highlight-reel swings, but on bunts, steals, defensive choices and the ability to respond once momentum begins to shift. The challenge now is to apply those lessons quickly — and bring the fight back into the series before opportunity slips away.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McNamara, Loula-Rae (7-1)
L: Wick, Reagan (10-7)
Batting:
2B: Stroh, Skylar 1 ; Farmer, Hollie 1 ; Penberthy, Kate 1
RBI: Hughes, Chloe 2 ; Stroh, Skylar 2 ; Farmer, Hollie 5 ; Flindt, Mya 1
SH: Jenkins, Talia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Southerland, Quinn 2 ; Jenkins, Talia 1 ; Hughes, Chloe 2 ; Farmer, Hollie 2 ; Gonzalez, Marissa 1 ; Penberthy, Kate 3 ; Peffley, Grace 1 ; Flindt, Mya 1
CS: Stroh, Skylar 1
Batting:
2B: Eslinger, Madi 1
RBI: English, Kaylynn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moody, Allyson 1 ; Hinson, Lindsey 1
CS: English, Kaylynn 1
HBP: Edwards, Abby 1 ; Wilson, Jailey 1
