Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
South Dakota State
Wildcats Take Second at Hawaii Invitational
3/7/2011 5:29:00 AM | Softball
HONOLULU -- Weber State finished off the Bank of Hawaii Invitational on Sunday with a split of two games, earning second place in the tournament. The Wildcats wrapped up the tournament round-robin play with a 6-5 extra-innings win against South Dakota State to move into the championship game against tournament-host Hawaii. The Rainbow Wahine, who tossed a perfect game against WSU on Saturday, took the title with a 5-1 win over the 'Cats.
After allowing a first inning run to South Dakota State, the Wildcats came back with three in their half of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Symbree Minniear provided the big blow in the inning, launching a three-run homer to left center.
The Jackrabbits battled back to take the lead with a single run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth, but once again, the Wildcats responded. Lyndsey Minnich doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and Ashtin Hall drove her home with a two-out single to left field.
In the top of the ninth, SDSU put the Wildcats on the ropes again, scoring a single run to take a 5-4 lead, but for the third time Weber State refused to go away. Britinie Hardine and Shaila Rivers provided back-to-back singles to score Hall and extend the game.
WSU finished off the game in the 10th inning. After holding the Jackrabbits in the top of the frame, Kami Johnson singled up the middle to score Minniear for the game-winner.
Hardine tossed four and-a-third innings in relief of Kelsie Vallies to earn the win for Weber State. The senior allowed only two hits and one unearned run, while striking out four in the contest.
Johnson recorded three hits in four at-bats against the 'Rabbits, while Erika James went 2-for-5.
In the tournament's title game, Weber State jumped out with a run in the first to take the lead against the 14th-ranked team in the nation. James singled to center with one out, stole second, and later scored on an error for the Wildcat run.
WSU held the lead until the bottom of the third, when Hawaii scored four times for all the offense they would need in the game. Hawaii later added another run in the sixth to finish off the scoring.
Stephanie Rickets earned the win for Hawaii, tossing a complete game and striking out eight.
Minniear posted a 2-for-3 performance against Hawaii, and finished the day 3-for-7 with two runs scored and three RBI.
The Wildcats improved to 2-5 on the season with the two wins in Hawaii.
