Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
No. 2 Sacramento State
BIG SKY CHAMPS: Wildcats down Hornets for title
5/10/2015 12:16:00 AM | Softball
POCATELLO, Idaho – From the moment the regular season ended a week ago, these Wildcats were on a mission.
Unified as one, the Weber State University softball team locked on its target – and there was no way they were gonna miss.
Riding a three-hitter from senior right-hander MaCauley Flint, and another unstoppable showing at the plate, the Wildcats steamrolled Sacramento State 13-1 in five innings on Saturday afternoon at Miller Ranch Stadium, claiming their first-ever Big Sky Conference championship in front of nearly 100 fans that made the commute from Ogden to witness history.
Weber State will find out its NCAA Regionals site, date, and time, during the NCAA Softball Selection Show, which will be televised live at 8 p.m. Sunday night on ESPNU.
“I'm so impressed with our team's mindset throughout the conference tournament,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “They have learned to take care of what we can control. They handled the halted game and the weather issues. We were having fun and staying focused the whole way.
“I couldn't be more proud of our continual commitment to getting better and making the most of all of our opportunities.”
On Saturday, those opportunities came from every quarter.
Junior third baseman Alyson Kulp smashed a towering home run over the fence at left field on a 3-1 pitch to lead off the game, and the Wildcats never looked back until freshman designated player Molly Horne crushed a full-count grand slam to left center to make it a 12-run lead with just three outs standing between the Purple and White and the league's top prize.
“I'd been struggling with my hitting for the last couple of games, and it took a lot to just forget the last at-bats and just go back to simple mechanics,” Horne said. “I can't thank the dugout enough for their incredible energy during my last at-bat. It's not so hard when you know you've got your entire team behind you, wanting as badly as you do to succeed.”
As incredible as the Wildcats were on offense during their final two wins at the tournament – Weber State outscored the league's top two seeds 22-2 in 10 total innings, it was the team's defense that really stole the show.
Just as it did during its winner's bracket final win against Idaho State, Weber State dove after fly balls, and just played with gusto and veteran savvy when it came to getting outs.
“You couldn't ask for a better day today,” Flint said. “Our offense, defense, and dugout were relentless, and we played amazing all around.”
Flint (14-7) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after going 3-0 and allowing just five runs with 13 strikeouts as she pitched all 17 innings across the three days for the Wildcats. Kulp, senior center fielder Malia Campos, senior catcher Mylee Brown, and freshman second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff were named to the All-Tournament Team.
“It is such an honor to have gotten the tournament MVP award with so many great players in this conference,” Flint said. “Today was one for the books. It was a great day to be a Wildcat.”
One for the books is definitely right as Weber State improved to 38-17 overall and will carry a seven game winning streak into the NCAA Regionals next week.
Kulp finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate, including the home run and a double, and scored three runs, while Campos had a two RBI double in the second inning, and was followed up by junior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer, who went 2-for-3, punching a two-run shot over the fence at left field that made it 7-1 and brought the collegiate career of Sacramento State ace Caitlin Brooks – the Big Sky Conference Pitcher of the Year – to a close.
