Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
New Mexico State
Wildcats split opening day in New Mexico
2/18/2012 5:39:00 AM | Softball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Wildcats' bats did plenty of work on Friday, earning a split in their opening two games of the Troy Cox Classic.
Weber State fell in a 13-9 slugfest to tournament host New Mexico State in their first outing of the day, but bounced back with a 13-5 five-inning, run-ruled victory in the nightcap.
In all, Weber State scored 22 runs on 27 hits, including six home runs, in the two games.
During the opening game, Weber State and New Mexico State combined for 28 hits and 22 runs, with the Aggies rallying from a sixth-inning deficit to capture a win over the Wildcats at the Troy Cox Classic.
Weber State had 13 hits, including four home runs. Senior Symbree Minniear, sophomore Brooke Silva, freshman Janel Cunningham and freshman Cydnee Clarke each put one over the fence.
Minniear was 4-of-4 at the play with two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Erika Dixon was 3-of-3 and walked once, while Clarke and senior Sarah Clark each had two hits.
The Wildcats trailed the Aggies 7-1 midway through the fourth inning before responding with three runs to make it 7-4. NMSU added one in the top of the fifth, but WSU scored five in the bottom half of the inning to take a 9-8 lead.
Minniear and Clarke each had homers during the fifth inning, with Clarke's solo shot pushing the Wildcats into the lead for the first time during the game.
In the second game, Weber State rolled from start to finish against the Ladyjacks.
Senior Lyndsey Minnich was 2-of-3 at the plate, scoring in the first inning and then hitting a second-inning grand slam as the Wildcats blew the game open early.
Minniear was 3-of-4 against Stephen F. Austin, with three RBIs and a run scored, Clark and Cydnee Clarke each recorded multiple hits.
Clark also earned her second win of the season on the mound, leveling her record at 2-2, as she struck out six and scattered six hits.
With Weber State leading 6-1, Minniear singled in the fourth inning to bring in two runs, followed by a Cunningham double to make it 9-1.
The Ladyjacks put Clark in a bind in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with no outs, but the Wildcats got out of it allowing just one score.
Ashtin Hall scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-2, before Ashley Huddleston and Minniear recorded consecutive singles to score three more runs and make it 13-2.
SFA (2-5) hit two home runs in the bottom half of the inning to close the gap, but WSU (3-4) recorded the final out of the game on a pop-up.
Weber State will return to action on Saturday against No. 22 Nebraska and Colorado State.
