Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
UNLV
Wildcats sweep opening day of SDSU Classic II
3/14/2015 3:33:00 AM | Softball
SANTEE, Calif. – The Wildcats just keep getting the job done.
Riding a strong day of pitching, defense, and timely hitting, the Weber State University softball team swept the opening day of the San Diego Classic II, shutting down UNLV 7-0, before rallying for a 3-2 extra-innings win against Harvard at the Sportsplex USA in Santee, Calif.
The Purple and White (15-9) didn't allow an earned run in 15 innings of work, while cranking out 16 combined hits as they put together their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Sophomore left fielder Mackenzi Corta blasted a two-out, base-loaded single down the left field line that scored senior center fielder Malia Campos from third base in the bottom of the eighth to provide the winning margin.
“The team did a great job of doing their job and loading the bases,” Corta said. “I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. The team has been playing great together.”
Weber State, which has won seven of nine, blanked the Crimson until a pair of fielding errors brought in two Harvard runs in the top of the sixth. It was the first runs allowed by the Wildcats in 23 innings.
Trailing 2-0, the Wildcats wasted no time it knotting things back up, with senior utility player Stephanie Mathias reaching after being hit by a pitch, and the Wildcats scoring on the next at-bat when junior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer singled up the middle and then advanced all the way to third on a throwing error. Freshman catcher Molly Horne tied things up with a sacrifice fly to left center that scored Whitmer.
Freshman right-hander Kirtlyn Bohling, who picked up her third win of the year in relief, retired the Crimson in order with two strikeouts and flyout to center field. The Wildcats moved a potential winning run to second in the bottom of the seventh, but lined out to the Crimson pitcher to set up the eighth.
With international tiebreaker in effect, Harvard advanced the runner to third with one out on a sacrifice bunt, but a ground out and foul out to third base ended it.
With Campos on second, sophomore right fielder Sara Hingsberger laid down a bunt single toward third base, advancing Campos to third and safely reaching first. Horne walked to load the bases with one out, but a lineout to center field set the stage for Corta's clutch hit.
“We came out hitting really well against UNLV,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “(Senior right-hander) MaCauley (Flint) and (freshman right-hander) Bailey (Seek) both pitched outstanding. We scored consistently in the UNLV game, which really helps us to put a solid game together.
“The second game we took too long making hitting adjustments. (Junior right-hander) Sierra (Whitmer) and (freshman right-hander) Kirtyln (Bohling) were both very good in the circle. Mackenzi Corta hit a beautiful clutch walk off hit in the tiebreaker inning. It was a terrific day getting two wins.”
Against the Rebels, the Wildcats scored in four of the first six innings to gradually pull away from the Rebels (14-12), with Flint and Seek combining for a three-hit shutout and nine strikeouts without a walk, facing just four batters over the minimum.
Hingsberger, Aubrey Whitmer, and junior first baseman Krystin Kubo each had two hits against UNLV, with Kubo hitting a two-out, two-RBI single to right field in the first inning to get things going.
Weber State will be back in action on Saturday morning, facing Long Beach State for the second time this year at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Pacific). The Wildcats defeated the 49ers 9-8 in nine innings back on Feb. 28 in Lakewood, Calif. Weber State will face San Diego at 12:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. Pacific), and then wrap up the tournament at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Pacific) on Sunday against Western Carolina.
