Despite the Boise State softball team tying a program-best 40 wins in 2022, there was only one word to describe the feeling at the end of the season – heartbreak.
The Broncos finished the year on a 14-game win streak but were unable to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, finishing second in the Mountain West Conference.
Heading into year two with Justin Shults as the Broncos’ skipper, Boise State is using that disappointment as motivation.
“Not making it to the postseason really put a fuel in our fire,” Senior catcher Serena Huchingson told Bronco Nation News.
With a 40-10 record, strength of schedule was one of the main issues with Boise State’s 2022 resume, eventually preventing the Broncos from receiving an at-large berth into the big dance.
Shults addressed that issue in 2023 – opening the gates to the new season with three out of the first five matchups for the Broncos coming against top-15 teams in the D1Softball Top 25.
“We know they’re some challenging teams but we’re ready to compete and display our softball,” Huchingson said. “Our coaches have put us in a good spot to excel and put us in a good place to make this postseason.”
Boise State opens the season on Friday with two games, facing #10 Georgia before going up against #15 UCF. The games are part of the UCF Black and Gold Tournament, hosted on the campus of UCF in Orlando, Fla. The Broncos will also play two games on Saturday against UMASS and Ohio State before playing Georgia again on Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
The Broncos embarking to Orlando marks the first of five tournaments Boise State will participate in to start the season. The team will also take part in the San Diego Tournament on campus of the University of San Diego before the Stanford Invitational, GCU Classic and the Sun Devil Classic at Arizona State.
“Our team understands what our mentality is,” Shults said. “We don’t want to shy away from anybody. Our goal is to go and play some of the best teams – win or lose it’s about feedback.”
One potential problem? The Broncos haven’t practiced on an actual softball field yet this spring due to poor field conditions and the weather. The first time the Broncos will play on a true softball diamond this offseason? Thursday evening on a local high school field in Orlando.
The team has been practicing in both the Caven-Williams indoor football facility and on The Blue inside of Albertsons Stadium the past month.
“It’s slightly different but there’s no excuses. This is year two for me and last year we were in the same boat,” Shults said. “For us it’s get creative when we get to Florida, we’re going to practice on some dirt for the first time and get our reps there.”
Regardless of the winter conditions forcing the Broncos to practice primarily indoors, the team hasn’t made any excuses. In fact, they’ve cherished the opportunities that the Boise State Athletic Department has brought them.
“We’re so thankful to get the opportunity to even have a facility to play at,” Junior outfielder Jordyn Hutchins said. “On top of that to have the new additions like the scoreboard and possibly the turf later on it just means so much to our team.”
The video board previously located in the south end zone of Albertsons Stadium has been moved to right field of Dona Larsen Park, enhancing the in-game experience for every fan coming to watch the Broncos take the field in 2023.
Looks like workers have started to assemble the new scoreboard at Dona Larsen Park for @BroncoSportsSB. The scoreboard was previously located in the south end zone at Albertsons Stadium. pic.twitter.com/IWpF14FNmQ
— Collin Mitchell (@CollinMitchell7) January 25, 2023
Despite losing two pitchers with under a 2.50 earned run average and two batters with over a .300 batting average from 2022, Boise State was picked to finish first in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
“There’s nine good teams in this conference, and so for us it’s take it for what it’s worth,” Shults said. “It’s a nice gesture, but it also shows that we need to take care of business now and make that become a reality.”
The Broncos added three transfers this offseason, including two on a pitching staff in need of being replenished.
Lindsey Walljasper, the sister of BSU pitching coach Allie Walljasper, transferred from Charlotte where she put up a 3.23 ERA in 2022. The fifth-year transfer also spent time at Nebraska prior to Charlotte. Boise State also added redshirt freshman Morgan Flesland by way of Oregon State. Flesland attended Mt. Spokane high school in Spokane, Wash., the same school as men’s basketball star Tyson Degenhart.
As for athletes returning to the team from 2022, Eliyah Flores was the highlight for the Broncos. The All-Mountain West First-Team infielder in 2022 opted to utilize her COVID season and join back with her sister Alycia for one more go around.
“She’s been a great leader since she’s been back,” Shults said. “I feel like we never lost her and the team has really responded to her being back.”
With the Broncos not hosting a game at Dona Larsen Park for over a month and going through a gauntlet of a schedule over the course of the way, the odds are Boise State won’t hold the shiny 20-5 record returning home as in 2022.
The record might not be as good. The team will hopefully be better.
“With the schedule we’ve put up I don’t want them (the fans) to necessarily look at wins and losses early on,” Shults said. “This team is going to be exciting, we put together 19 home games which is I think the most has ever had or in recent history … For us, it’s like we’re getting 19 home games for fans to keep seeing what Boise State softball is all about.”