Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah Valley
Wildcats drop doubleheader to Wolverines
4/30/2011 3:46:00 AM | Softball
OGDEN, Utah – The Weber State University women's softball team dropped a pair of tough games to in-state rival Utah Valley on a chilly Friday afternoon.
Despite cranking out 22 combined hits, including 10 that went for extra bases, the Wildcats were swept by the Wolverines, falling 8-7 and 10-6.
The second game saw an extremely scary moment for Weber State as junior Erika James suffered a head injury while trying to steal second base. James collided with the knee Utah Valley second baseman Mandy Tapia as she tried to dive in past her to touch the base. The game was delayed by a half-hour for the arrival of local paramedics. James was taken to a local hospital to undergo a CAT scan to determine the extent of her injury.
Weber State trailed Utah Valley 7-0 in the bottom of the first inning when the injury occurred, but rallied behind the Wildcats rallied behind their fallen teammate to score six runs over the next two innings to close the deficit to 7-6.
The Wolverines added two in the top of the third to make it 9-6 and the remainder of the game turned into a pitcher's duel, with Utah Valley scoring in the top of the sixth to make it 10-6 and that was all the offense of the day.
Shaila Rivers, who entered the lineup at the leadoff spot in place of James, and Symbree Minniear each had two doubles in that second game, while Britinie Hardine, Lyndsey Minnich and Brandi Christopher each had triples.
In the opening game, Weber State raced out to an early 5-0 lead after three innings and held it until the Wolverines rallied with the five-run fifth inning to tie it at 5-5.
Utah Valley scored three more in the sixth to take an 8-5 lead. Weber State rallied with two in the bottom half of the inning to make it 8-7, but wasn't able to come all the way back.
Ashley Huddleston was 3-of-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs in the opening game. Lyndsey Minnich added a double and Brandi Christopher had a triple.
Weber State and Utah Valley will wrap up their four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Wildcat Softball Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
The Wildcats' four seniors, Hardine, Christopher, Heather Jackson and Jessica Adler, will be playing their final career home games and will be honored between the two games.
