Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
St. Mary's (Calif.)
Wildcats top Gaels in final pre-Big Sky tune-up
3/20/2016 9:22:00 PM | Softball
SANTEE, Calif. – With the start of Big Sky Conference action just a few days away, the Wildcats rallied for a hard-fought win in their final pre-conference tune-up.
Freshman outfielder JaeCie Wilson had two hits and five players had RBIs as the Weber State University softball team overcame a 4-1 fourth-inning deficit for a 6-5 victory over St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up the Wildcats' three-day participation in the San Diego Classic II at Santee Sportsplex.
Weber State improved to 16-11 overall and Wildcat head coach Mary Kay Amicone collected her 590th career college coaching win. Weber State went 3-2 during the massive 20-team super tournament and will head into league play with wins in three of its last four outings.
The Wildcats trailed 4-1 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but a wild pitch brought junior outfielder Sara Hingsberger across the plate and back-to-back RBI singles by junior KyRae Kogianes and sophomore second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff helped Weber State to rally to tie the game at 4-4.
After holding the Gaels (10-17) in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats took the lead for good when senior third baseman Alyson Kulp led off the bottom of the inning with a home run down the left field line. Senior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer doubled in the next at-bat, and senior Jazmine Thompson – pinching-running for Whitmer – scored on an RBI single from junior designated player Mackenzi Corta to give Weber State a 6-4 lead.
St. Mary's made it 6-5 in the sixth, scoring on a throwing error, but the Wildcats closed down the final four outs to secure the win.
Junior right-hander Baylee Reeves (4-4) earned her fourth win of the season in relief, scattering five hits and one run in three innings of work, while sophomore right-hander Bailey Seek earned her first save pitching the final two innings.
Weber State will open up Big Sky Conference action on Friday with a three-game series against Portland State in Hillsboro, Ore. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. MT.
