TEMPE, Ariz.—Preseason All-American shortstop Rebekah Cervantes was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs and Kora Wade added three more hits as Boise State topped South Dakota 11-3 in the opening game of Arizona State's Kajikawa Classic Thursday at Farrington Stadium. It marked the season opener for both teams. The Coyotes return at 5:45 p.m. (CT) to face San Jose State.
 
The Broncos, winners of 33 games last season, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to preserve a 5-3 lead and scored four runs in the top of the sixth to break it open. Cervantes' second double in as many innings made it 6-3 and she came around to score one batter later on a base hit from Halle Harger. The Broncos tacked on two unearned runs to make it 9-3.
 
South Dakota had made it a two-run game in the fifth when Jamie Holscher blasted a no-doubt shot to straightaway center field off Bronco reliever Paige Reimann. The Coyotes then loaded the bases before Micaela Leal, who relieved Reimann, got Lauren Eamiguel to ground out to first to end the threat.
 
Reimann (1-0) entered with a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning for Boise State. She surrendered an RBI double to Coyote catcher Jessica Rogers that closed the gap to 3-2, but retired the next two to leave runners stranded on second and third.
 
Boise State outhit South Dakota 15-5. The Coyotes' six returning starters combined for all five hits led by Taylor Steinfeldt, who earned her first start in right field since her sophomore season in 2016. Steinfeldt was 2-for-3 including an RBI triple in the bottom of the second.
 
Junior college transfer Dustie Durham (0-1) was the opening day starter for coach Robert Wagner and one of four USD pitchers who made their Division I debuts against the Broncos. Durham took the first three innings and allowed three runs – none earned – on four hits. Alexis Devers (2.0 IP), Gill Woodward (0.2 IP) and Breanna Alvarez (1.1 IP) also appeared in the circle for USD.