Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
No. 2 Sacramento State
Wildcat softball advances to Big Sky title game
5/8/2015 11:32:00 PM | Softball
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Wildcats had to wait a little longer for than expected for their first-ever Big Sky Conference tournament victory.
They didn't have to wait nearly as long for their second.
Now, the Purple and White are just one win from the biggest dance of all.
The Weber State University softball team wrapped up the final two innings of its lightning-suspended first round game against Sacramento State with a 4-3 win, and then blitzed top-seed Idaho State 9-1 in five innings in the winner's bracket final at Miller Ranch Stadium.
The win sends the Wildcats (37-17) into Saturday's 1 p.m. Big Sky Conference championship game against the Hornets, who won the elimnation bracket by defeating Southern Utah 8-0 and Idaho State 10-6, with a berth in the NCAA Softball tournament awaiting the winner.
“My pitches felt pretty good today,” Weber State senior right-hander MaCauley Flint said. “It was a little nerve-wracking going into this morning's games with two great hitting teams, but we just played like we know how. I'm really excited for tomorrow's game. We know there is still business to take care of, and I'm just really proud of how much fight this team has.”
Facing a one-out, one-on, full-count situation when their first-round matchup with the Hornets resumed, the Wildcats closed out the victory, allowing only a solo home run in the sixth, and advancing to play the Bengals just 30 minutes later.
It was just the third split-day game during the 300+ games played by WSU during the new era, with the team improving to 2-1 in such situations. Both wins have come against the Hornets.
Weber State came charging out the gate against Idaho State, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by junior shortstop to left center that scored junior third baseman Alyson Kulp, with senior center fielder Malia Campos scoring on a heads-up play as the Idaho State defense went after batter Sara Hingsberger at first to make it 2-0.
The Bengals cut it to 2-1 in the second with Ashlyn Ames' 0-2 home run to right center. That, however, would be Idaho State's only offense of the day.
Whitmer singled to lead off the third, setting into motion a massive inning for the Wildcats, who saw even runs cross the plate with just one out, highlighted by a grand slam from Kulp.
“All I was thinking was base hit. I need to hit (senior first baseman Kylee Hogue) in and keep this inning going,” Kulp said. “The past two games have been Wildcat softball. We are strong on defense and stronger on offense. We are playing one pitch at a time and playing with the ultimate focus.
“We have a great opportunity to play in the championship game and we are all beyond excited for it.”
Suddenly with an eight-run lead, the Wildcats found themselves in the position of needing just six outs to end the game early on run-rule, and that's just what they did.
Weber State will carry a six-game winning streak into today's championship game, the second longest this season behind a seven-game win streak during the opening weeks of Big Sky Conference play.
