Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
North Dakota
Wildcat softball takes two in Big Sky home opener
3/23/2013 3:53:00 AM | Softball
OGDEN, Utah – The Wildcats hit the ground running.
Rallying from a 3-0 deficit early in the first game, the Weber State University softball swept a doubleheader with the University of North Dakota on Friday afternoon at Wildcat Softball Field, defeating UND 7-3 and 6-3 to kick off Big Sky Conference action.
Weber State (2-0 Big Sky, 4-20 overall) had five players record multiple hits during the two games and eight players in all get a hit as the Wildcats' offense heated up despite the frigid spring temperatures in the in Ogden area.
“Getting the ball in play throughout our lineup was critical to our success today,” Weber State coach Tina Johnson said. “Our wins were because of a great team effort.”
In all, Weber State recorded 13 hits and overcame six errors in earning their first doubleheader sweep of the season.
Freshman infielder Alyson Kulp put on a power display as she had a double and a home run during the afternoon, while junior infielder Desiree Mejia had a home run. Junior shortstop Brooke Silva had two hits, including a double, while freshman right fielder Jazmine Thompson and senior center fielder London Clarke each had two hits against North Dakota.
Junior right hander Kylee Colvin picked up the win in the first game, improving to 3-3 on the mound after recovering from a rough first two innings to get three strikeouts. Sophomore right hander Morgan Allaband had the win in the second game, allowing just six hits with five strikeouts as she earned her first victory of the season.
The Wildcats fell behind 3-0 in the opening game, but methodically worked themselves back into it as Mejia scored on an error to make it 3-1, and then Kulp hit a solo home run in the third inning to make it 3-2.
With the bases loaded in the fifth, freshman left fielder Rudi Barrios put down a bunt to first, but UND's first baseman threw the ball over home plate and into the backstop, allowing Thompson and Clarke to score and give Weber State the 4-3 lead. Kulp hit a sacrifice fly to right field in the next at bat that scored Silva and put the Wildcats in front 5-3.
Silva hit a two-out double to score freshman pinch runner Jessica Chaulkin, followed by Barrios hitting another double to center field that score Silva and made it 7-3, and the Wildcats held on for the win despite allowing UND to load the bases in the top of the seventh.
In the second game, Weber State fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second on a North Dakota home run, but came roaring back in the bottom half of the inning to score five runs.
Sophomore Stephanie Mathias and Thompson hit back-to-back singles, and then freshman second baseman Brooke Ford reached on a fielder's choice as Mathias reached third on an obstruction call.
Clarke hit a single down the left field line that scored Mathias and Thompson to make it 2-1, with Ford scoring after Silva hit a single to right field.
Kulp hit a two RBI double to center field, scorning Silva and Clarke, but was tagged out at third as she tried to get a final base.
Mejia homered to start the third inning, making it 6-1, and again the Wildcats held on down the stretch as North Dakota tried to rally. Ford turned a double play at second base, catching a liner and then stepping on base for the final out.
Weber State and North Dakota (0-2 Big Sky, 7-19 overall) will meet one last time on Saturday at Noon at Wildcat Softball Field in the series finale.
