Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Idaho State
Wildcats top Bengals, regain Big Sky lead
4/5/2015 12:15:00 AM | Softball
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Wildcats hit a bump in the road on Friday.
On Saturday afternoon, they got back on track.
Fueled by a huge offensive game from junior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer, the Weber State University softball team regained a share of the Big Sky Conference lead as the Wildcats dispatched Idaho State 9-5 at Miller Ranch Stadium.
“Today's win was a real character-builder for us; a statement to the fight this team has,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “(Senior right-hander) MaCauley (Flint) threw very well and our offense made some adjustments from (Friday). Aubrey not only picked up four RBI, but she also had a game-changing catch with the bases loaded in the third.”
That catch, a foul out, came on the batters 10th pitch and helped Weber State preserve its then 6-1 advantage.
Weber State (7-2 Big Sky, 26-13 overall) fell behind Idaho State (7-2 Big Sky, 22-14 overall) 1-0 in the first inning, but came roaring back with nine straight runs – including six during the second inning – to take a 9-1 lead through four.
Freshman designated player Molly Horne walked to lead off the sixth, followed by a double down the right field line by sophomore right fielder Sara Hingsberger. Sophomore left fielder Mackenzi Corta tied the game on a single to right field that scored Horne, and the Wildcats took the lead for good on a fielding error by the Bengals' pitcher that allowed Hingsberger to score.
With the bases loaded junior third baseman Alyson Kulp blasted a double to right field that scored two runs, making it 4-1, followed by a walk by senior center fielder Malia Campos, and then an RBI single to right field by Whitmer that scored Kulp to make it 5-1. Finally, with Horne back at the plate, she hit an RBI single to center field that made it 6-1.
Freshman second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff hit a 3-2 single to left field, and Campos hit a 2-2 single to right field to set the stage for Whitmer to deliver a three-run shot on a 1-0 pitch to right center, pushing the Wildcats lead to 9-1.
Weber State had a chance to go for a run-rule victory in the fifth, but Idaho State escaped that fate with a single run in the inning and then tacked on three more in the bottom of the seventh before the Wildcats closed off the rally attempt.
Whitmer finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI with her second home run of the year, while Hingsberger was 2-for-4 with her 10th double and Kulp smacked her team-leading 13th double of the year.
After three completed conference series weekends, Weber State, Idaho State and Sacramento State share the league lead at 7-2, followed by a three-way tie at 4-5 between Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, and Montana, for fourth.
Weber State will be back in action in a three-game Big Sky series with in-state rival and defending Big Sky Conference tournament champion Southern Utah, beginning on Friday at 2 p.m. at Wildcat Softball Field.
