Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
BYU
Wildcat softball takes down BYU in season opener
2/7/2014 4:18:00 AM | Softball
ST. GEORGE, Utah – It was just the first of a 54-game season for the Wildcats, but there is no doubt that this was a sweet beginning.
Sophomore third baseman Alyson Kulp hit a three-run shot to left center field in the sixth inning, rallying the Weber State University softball team for a scintillating 4-3 victory over in-state rival Brigham Young University on Thursday afternoon in the opening game of the Red Desert Classic at St. George's Canyons Complex.
“It was inside and down low, and honestly all that was going through my head was that I needed to get a base hit, and I did more than that,” Kulp said. “We're just going to keep playing like we know how.”
Senior right-hander Kylee Colvin scattered four hits in 6 1/3 innings, earning the win in the circle as Weber State celebrated its first win over BYU since May 7, 1983.
“I had to slow everything down,” Colvin said. “I wanted to keep the ball down to make sure my fielders were fielding everything. I couldn't get my head too caught up in being down early, I had to keep with basics. You've gotta keep the game slow and just keep spinning the ball in there.”
The Wildcats took the game to the Cougars early, loading up the bases in the top of the first, but BYU escaped the jam and then turned the tables in their half of the inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The two teams locked down defensively over the next three innings until the Cougars extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth on a fielder's choice and sacrifice fly.
“(My defense) was awesome,” Colvin said. “I knew as soon as (BYU) hit the ball that they were going to handle it. I have a lot of trust in my teammates. I knew they had my back.”
Trailing by three runs heading into the fifth, the Wildcats' offense finally started to find its legs as sophomore left fielder Rudi Barrios' RBI single to left center scored sophomore outfielder Jazmine Thompson from second base, cutting the Cougars lead to 3-1.
“I think the speed of the game caught us off guard a little bit, but it is a credit to our team to adjust like they did,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone. “I love that our team is buying into the process. They were ready to go and we feel like there is a lot of potential, but to start the season off with that kind of win is great.”
After shutting down BYU in the bottom of the fifth, Weber State finally made its move in the sixth inning.
Junior catcher Mylee Davis, who transferred from BYU to Weber State this year, and junior first baseman Kylee Hogue each walked to put runners on first and second with one out, setting the stage for Kulp's second career home run, which easily cleared the fence and put the Wildcats in front for good.
With the momentum clearly shifted, Colvin shut down the Cougars' batters for the next four outs, before giving way to junior right-hander MaCauley Flint, who got the final two outs – including a strikeout on the final at-bat.
“Kylee Colvin trusted her pitches and her team, and just kept scratching out key outs until our team could get our legs underneath us,” Amicone said. “She pitched a heck of a game, and Aly came up with a great hit. The three-run home run was fantastic.
“It's a great way to start the year, but it's not the finish line.”
Weber State will be back in action on Friday against the University of Texas-Arlington at 11 a.m. and the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 1:30 p.m. as the Red Desert Classic continues.
