Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
BYU
Wildcat softball tops rival Cougars in Provo
4/29/2015 4:23:00 AM | Softball
PROVO, Utah – The sun was shining down brightly on Gail Miller Field on Tuesday evening.
While the fading sunlight caused a temporary delay during the seventh inning, the Wildcats spent the most of the evening drenching the scoreboard.
The Weber State University softball team blasted its way past in-state rival Brigham Young University, routing the Cougars 9-2 for their Big Sky Conference-leading 32nd overall victory.
The win was the first by a Weber State team, men's or women's, against BYU in Provo since the women's basketball team defeated the Cougars 93-87 in overtime on Dec. 20, 1989.
“We were focused on defense and made key plays in certain situations,” said junior third baseman Alyson Kulp, who delivered a pair of key hits – including a three-run homer in the second that gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead and chased NCAA wins leader McKenna Bull out of the circle for the Cougars. “When runners were on base, even with two outs, we came up with the hits that we needed to score the runs. All around, we played well, especially against our rivals. This win gives us the confidence and energy we need to take into the weekend and get some wins.”
Kulp finished the day with two hits, adding a fourth-inning double, and two runs scored, while sophomore left fielder Mackenzi Corta was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Junior first baseman Kristen Kubo and sophomore right field Sara Hingsberger each had two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
Weber State stormed out to a 4-0 lead after two innings on Kulp's long ball on a full count to right center, which sent Bull (30-7) packing for the day.
The Wildcats made it 5-0 in the third when Corta hit a slow ball to shortstop that brought Aubrey Whitmer home.
Freshman second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff led off the fourth with a single, and moved to third on a double by Kulp, and then scored during a rundown attempt between second and third after Aubrey Whitmer line out to right field.
With two outs and two on, Hingsberger hit an RBI single to left field on a 2-0 pitch, Corta hit an RBI single up the middle on a 2-1 pitch and Kubo single on a 1-1 ball to center field to push the Wildcat lead to 9-0 after four.
BYU avoided getting run-ruled with a two-out, two-run homer in bottom of the inning, and that would do it for the days scoring.
“We put it together today,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “(Freshman starter Kirtlyn Bohling) and (junior right-hander Sierra Whitmer) were really solid pitching and our defense played clean. We made some great adjustments at the plate.
“I'm really proud of our focus and commitment to getting better.”
Bohling started and went 3 2/3 innings allowing just three hits and two runs with three strikeouts, while Whitmer (7-2) was credited with the win in relief, allowing just four hits and holding the Cougars scoreless with two strikeouts in the final 3 1/3 innings.
Weber State will wrap up the regular season this weekend, kicking off a three-game Big Sky Conference series against Montana, beginning on Friday at Wildcat Softball Field. The Wildcats (10-6 Big Sky, 32-17 overall) and Grizzlies (8-10 Big Sky, 16-31 overall) will get things underway at 2 p.m. on Friday, followed by a second game. The Wildcats, who have already qualified for next week's Big Sky Conference tournament, will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, beginning at Noon, with the team's eight seniors set to be honored prior to the game.
