Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Valparaiso
Wildcat softball sweeps opening day in Boise
3/8/2014 1:23:00 AM | Softball
BOISE, Idaho – The Wildcats' early season roll continued on Friday afternoon.
Behind timely hitting and solid pitching, the Weber State University softball team swept the opening day of the SpringHill Suites Invitational at Boise State's Dona Larsen Park.
The Wildcats opened the day with a 3-0 victory over Valparaiso, and then topped Indiana 5-3 in their second game, running their winning streak to four straight and improving to 11-5 overall.
Against the Crusaders, junior right-hander MaCauley Flint picked up her second complete-game shutout on the mound, throwing a two-hitter with seven strikeouts as she improved to 7-1 this season.
Weber State took a 2-0 lead on the Crusaders (3-10) in the second inning, scoring their first run on Rudi Barrios' sacrifice bunt brought junior catcher Mylee Davis across the plate, and their second on a sacrifice fly to center field by freshman second baseman Mackenzi Corta that brought home freshman left fielder Katelyn Robinson.
The Wildcats made it 3-0 in the fourth inning when Barrios reached on a fielder's choice that scored senior right-hander/designated player Jasmine Ioane.
Against the Hoosiers, Ioane hit a two-run homer over the center field fence that broke a 3-3 tie as the Wildcats rallied past Indiana (2-15-1). Ioane also earned the win on the mound, improving to 3-0 as she threw five innings in relief.
Indiana took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as the Hoosiers pounded out five hits in the first two innings, but Weber State came back swinging in its half of the inning.
After Davis led off the inning with a double to center field, freshman first baseman Sara Hingsberger smashed an RBI single to center field that scored Davis to level the game at 1-1.
It was just the start of a career day for Hingsberger, who came up with a two-run homer to right center after Davis singled to lead off the inning, giving Weber State a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Indiana tied the game up in the top of the fifth on a pair of RBI singles, setting the stage for Ioane's team-leading fifth home run of the season.
Weber State will be back in action on Saturday, taking on both Valparaiso and Indiana a second time, before wrapping up the tournament on Sunday against host Boise State.
