Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Boise State
Wildcats Just Miss First Win
3/21/2010 3:00:00 AM | Softball
BOISE, Idaho -- The Weber State softball team just missed getting its first win of the season on Saturday as they dropped a 5-4 decision in extra innings to Minnesota in its first game at the SpringHill Suites Invitational. Boise State took an 11-0 win over the Wildcats in the team's second game of the day.
Against the Gophers, the Wildcats fell behind 3-0 as Minnesota scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings. While Minnesota was grabbing the early lead, the Wildcats were leaving runners on board in each of the first four innings.
In the fifth inning, the 'Cats broke through with two runs, cutting the lead back to one. With two outs, Linnea Ketcher singled to left field, and Britinie Hardine followed with a home run.
The Wildcats tied the game in the top of the sixth as Aubri Chiquete hit her second home run of the year with a one-out blast.
Weber State got out of a two-out, two-on situation in the bottom of the sixth, but returned the favor by failing to score on the same situation in the top of the seventh.
Minnesota again threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but WSU pitcher Ariel Whiteman forced a fly ball to left field to end the inning and send the game into extra frames.
Using the international tiebreak rule, WSU's Jessica Adler started the inning off at second base, and Abby Bowcutt came to the plate. Bowcutt reached on an error while laying down a sacrifice bunt to give the 'Cats two on with no outs.
Bowcutt stole second and Chiquete followed with a sacrifice fly to left, driving Adler home to gieve Weber State a 4-3 lead. Bowcutt was then picked off third and the Gophers got out of the inning on a strikeout of Genasee Aman.
The Gophers scored their runner in the bottom of the eighth on a one-out double to tie the game at four runs apiece.
In the top of the ninth, Aman started at second base and stole third to give the 'Cats another excellent chance to score. But Minnesota forced three-straight ground balls to the left side, stranding Aman.
Minnesota ended the game in the bottom of the ninth with a single and a sacrifice fly, sending the 'Cats to their 21st-straight loss.
In the team's second game of the day, Boise State posted two run innings in the first, third and fourth, and capped the game with a five-run fifth inning. The Wildcats managed only four hits against the host team, and was shutout for the seventh time this year.
Weber State will have one more game against each team on Sunday.
