Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
San Jose State
'Cats Drop Opening Pair at UTEP
2/27/2010 5:00:00 AM | Softball
EL PASO, Tex. -- The Weber State University softball team suffered a pair of losses on Friday as they opened up the UTEP Softball Invitational at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
The Wildcats opened the tournament with an 11-6 loss to San Jose State and finished the day with a 9-0 loss to the host Miners.
Against the Spartans, Weber State fell behind 4-0 after giving up a single run in the second inning and another three in the top of the second. The Wildcats rallied in the bottom of the third, however, scoring three times to cut the deficit to a single run.
Linnea Ketcher led off the inning with a walk and scored as Heather Jackson continued her hot hitting to start the season with a double to right field. Genasee Aman moved Jackson to third on a sacrifice bunt, and Britinie Hardine doubled her home with a shot to the left center field gap. Ariel Whiteman then capped the scoring, driving home Hardine with an opposite field single.
San Jose State then put the game away in the top of the fourth, scoring seven times on six hits. Four of the Spartans' six hits went for extra bases in the inning.
The Wildcats tried to rally, but managed only three more runs over the course of the game. WSU scored twice in the fifth and added another run in the seventh.
In the fifth frame, Aman singled to center and Hardine followed with a double to left center. After back-to-back outs, Marqi Gray drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Abby Bowcutt, playing in her first game as a Wildcat, singled up the middle, scoring a pair to cut the lead to 11-5.
In the seventh, Whiteman led off with a double to left center. Jessica Adler pinch ran for Whiteman, and scored on a one-out single by Marqi Gray. Bowcutt picked up her third hit of the game to give the Wildcats two on with two out, but the Spartans got out of the inning with a game-ending strikeout.
In the nightcap, WSU was shutout for the first time in seven games this season. UTEP scored once in the second inning to take the lead, and added four runs in the third, one run in the fifth and three times in the sixth.
The Wildcats were unable to get a run home despite recording nine hits in the game. WSU was led by Hardine, Aubri Chiquete and Ketcher, who each went 2 for 3 during the game.
The Wildcats will return to action tomorrow at the UTEP Invitational. WSU will open the day against New Mexico at 9:00 a.m. and then will have a chance for some revenge as they will again face the Miners at 1:30 p.m.
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