Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Western Carolina
Wildcat softball steamrolls Catamounts
3/15/2015 7:09:00 PM | Softball
SANTEE, Calif. – The Wildcats closed out their final non-conference tournament in style.
Riding another powerful nine-hit performance at the plate and a combined two-hitter in the circle, the Weber State University softball team steamrolled to an 11-2 victory in five innings against Western Carolina on Sunday morning to close out their participation in the San Diego Classic II.
The Wildcats (17-10) improved to 4-1 at the 15-team, 36-game super tournament hosted at Sportsplex USA in Santee by San Diego State, and went 5-2 overall on a seven-game road swing through southern California this week.
Freshman right-hander Bailey Seek picked up the win, her sixth of the season and third this week, in the circle, improving to 6-2 as she allowed just two hits in three innings of work. Junior right-hander Sierra Whitmer entered in relief for the final two innings, holding WCU hitless and scoreless.
“I've just tried to keep calm and stay loose,” Seek said. “Every time I throw a pitch, I know that the defense has my back. Knowing the defense will make the plays takes a lot of pressure away.
“It think the team is playing extremely well. If someone doesn't get it done at the play in one at-bat, we knew that the next person will pick them up and get the job done. I have a great feeling going into conference play.”
After five out-of-state non-conference tournaments, Weber State is scheduled to make its debut in Utah on Wednesday with a doubleheader against in-state rival Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, beginning at 2 p.m., and then will make its home – and Big Sky Conference opening – debut on Friday against North Dakota.
“Overall, this week has been very positive,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “We found a way to win in some very tough situations. I like our focus moving forward into this week and conference play. I know that we are still working to get better and there is room for improvement in all phases of the game.
“Our pitching was very good this week. I love the pitching staff's approach to each game. They all bring a different look and complement each other very well.
“We are looking forward to opening at home this week.”
Against the Catamounts (7-17), the Wildcats fell behind in the second after a two-run homer put WCU up, but the Wildcats came charging back in their half of the inning, with junior third baseman Alyson Kulp blasting an RBI single to left center to score senior catcher Mylee Brown and senior center field Malia Campos hit RBI infield single to score freshman second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff and even things up at 2-2.
After shutting down WCU in the third, the Wildcats' offense ignited in bottom half of the inning as Brown hit a one-out, two RBI single with the bases loaded to make it 4-2. Brinkerhoff laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt that brought junior first baseman Krystin Kubo home, and Brown scored on a Catamount error to give the Purple and White a 6-2 lead after three.
Weber State quickly put Western Carolina down in the fourth and blew open the game with five runs in its turn at the plate, with Kubo hitting an RBI single to left field, Brinkerhoff had an RBI bases-loaded walk, and Kulp drilled a two-out double to left field that tacked on three more runs to make it 11-2, and give the Wildcats a chance to close the game down early on run-rule.
