Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah Valley
Wildcat softball splits opening day in California
2/28/2015 3:33:00 AM | Softball
LAKEWOOD, Calif. – The Purple and White split a twinbill during the opening day of the Louisville Slugger Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State, on Friday.
The Weber State University softball team blanked in-state rival Utah Valley 5-0 in the opening game of the day, riding a nine strikeout, four-hit performance in the circle by senior right-hander MaCauley Flint to the shut out win, and then dropped a tough 9-8 decision to Boise State in the second game after committing four errors.
Flint, who improved to 3-2 and lowered her ERA to 2.71, went the distance against the Wolverines, allowing just four hits and three walks against 28 batters.
Junior third baseman Alyson Kulp was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, including a key two-run double to left center in the fifth inning that broke a scoreless deadlock. Sophomore left fielder Sara Hingsberger had a sacrifice hit that made it 3-0, and freshman designated player Molly Horne had an RBI single to right field that brought Kulp across the plate and made it 4-0 through five.
During the second game, Weber State fell behind 2-0 in the third, but roared back in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead in the fifth and the two teams traded the lead during their respective half of the innings three more times before the Wildcats came up just one run short, with the tying run on third in the seventh.
Kulp was 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and two runs scored against the Broncos, while sophomore left fielder Katelyn Robinson was 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the fifth and a two RBI single in the sixth.
The Wildcats trailed 9-6 heading into the top of the seventh, but scored on an RBI single from Horne and a sacrifice fly to right field by senior utility player Stephanie Mathias. Weber State had runners on second and third with two outs, but couldn't come up one play short.
Weber State (6-6) will be back in action on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Pacific) to take on Seattle, and then will face Long Beach State at 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Pacific). The Wildcats will wrap up the tournament on Sunday at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. Pacific) against Stanford.
