Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Canisius
Wildcats sweep opening day at Titan Classic
2/13/2016 1:32:00 AM | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Wildcats kicked off the season in style.
Junior right fielder Sara Hingsberger pounded out four hits, and three other players recorded three as the Weber State University softball earned a pair of hard-fought wins to start the 2016 season.
The Wildcats (2-0) recorded 19 combined hits and allowed just three runs in 14 innings of work in a 6-2 win over Canisius and a walk-off 2-1 win over UT San Antonio.
“It was a solid start, especially with it being our first time outside in live competition this year,” said Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone, who collected her 575th career collegiate win against the Griffins. “We played solid defensively, and put the ball in play on offense. It was great experience to compete in a close game this year, so overall I thought it was a positive day.”
In the opening game of the day, Weber State rolled out to an early lead on Canisius and never looked back in capturing its season opener for the third consecutive year.
The Wildcats took a lead 3-0 in the second inning after Hingsberger doubled to lead off the inning, moving to third after a single by junior college transfer KyRae Kogianes, with both players crossing the plate after a throwing error by the Golden Griffins' catcher to put the Purple and White ahead 2-0. Sophomore second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff hit a single to left, field, stole second, and eventually capitalized on another throwing error by the catcher to make it 3-0.
WSU made it 4-0 in the third when Hingsberger hit an RBI single to right center, scoring senior Jazmine Thompson from first base.
Brinkerhoff hit a triple to lead off the fourth inning, and scored on an RBI single by senior third baseman Alyson Kulp to make it 5-0.
Canisius made a brief rally in the sixth, plating two runs, but Kogianes hit the Wildcats' first home run of the season over the fence at left field to make it 6-2 and the Purple and White defense took it the rest of the way.
Sophomore right-hander Kirtlyn Bohling (1-0) earned the complete-game win in the circle, scattering five hits with six strikeouts.
In the second game, Weber State took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Hingsberger's solo home run to left field.
The Roadrunners leveled it at 1-1 with a solo shot of their own in the fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic two-out walk-off for the Wildcats.
With two outs, Kulp singled through the left side, with senior Krystin Kubo reaching after being hit by a pitch, moving Kulp to second, and bringing up senior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer, who hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Kulp to give Weber State the victory.
Junior right-hander Baylee Reeves scattered eight hits against potent UTSA offense, allowing just one run – a solo long ball in the fourth, with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings, and freshman right-hander Tatiana Su'esu'e earned the win in the circle.
“Sara, McKinley, and Aly started strong, and Aubrey came through in the clutch and played well defensively. Our pitchers were consistent as well,” Amicone said. “We were prepared to play and showed confidence. Tomorrow will be a great challenge for us to play two top programs in San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton.”
The win over Canisius to start the day was Amicone's 575th career win as a collegiate head coach, and she now sits with a 576-219-2 overall mark in 14-plus seasons.
Weber State is 2-0 for just the second time in its seven-year history, and the first since 2012.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday at the Titan Classic, and will face San Diego State at 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Pacific), followed by tournament host Cal State Fullerton at 5 p.m.
