Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
No. 3 Idaho State
BACK-TO-BACK: Wildcats win Big Sky softball title
5/15/2016 12:31:00 AM | Softball
OGDEN – They started day one with a target on their backs, and the Wildcats never wavered.
The Weber State University softball team won its second consecutive Big Sky Conference tournament title on Saturday afternoon, defeating Idaho State 4-2 in the championship game at Wildcat Softball Complex.
The Wildcats improved to 37-17 overall, successfully living up to their preseason No. 1 ranking by becoming the first team in league history to win the Big Sky's regular season and tournament title in the same year.
Weber State will learn its NCAA Regionals fate on Sunday night at 8 p.m. when the selection show is broadcast on ESPNU.
“It is great winning the championship back-to-back,” said senior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer, who was named the Big Sky Tournament Most Valuable Player. “I just remember the feeling we had going to regionals last year, and it was so awesome, so it's nice to be able to do it again.
“In the tournament, we just made sure we stuck together and played for one another. We just wanted to go after every team, and we had to stick together to do that.”
Whitmer, the 2016 Big Sky Conference Player of the Year, was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single to center field in the fifth inning that scored senior third baseman Alyson Kulp, snapping a 2-2 tie with what proved to be the game-winning run.
Senior first baseman Krystin Kubo tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning, smashing a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to make it 4-2, and the Wildcats retired the Bengals in order in the top of the seventh to secure the title.
“I loved the way our team approached the Big Sky Conference tournament,” Weber State coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “Our focus and team leadership was outstanding. We did a lot of little things well. The team's energy and support for one another was top notch. (Sophore right-hander Kirtlyn Bohling) and (freshman right-hander Tatiana Su'esu'e) pitched very well, and our defense was exceptional. We had a nice balance on offense with timely hitting, and added an important insurance run in the sixth inning with the home run from Krystin Kubo. All three days we played Wildcat softball, and have earned the right to represent Weber State University and the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Regionals.
Junior right fielder Sara Hingsberger, who entered the game ranked 11th nationally in RBI had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning that scored freshman designated player JaeCie Wilson, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Junior left fielder Mackenzi Corta made it 2-0 with an RBI single to left field that brought junior Katelyn Robinson across the plate.
“It is difficult to win both the regular season title and the conference tournament,” Amicone said. “I'm so proud of this team. We have played a challenging schedule this year. Our RPI is the best in program history, and that will help us moving forward into Regionals.
“We gained valuable experience at (Louisiana) last year. We fought very gard to get back to Regionals, and now we look forward to seeing where we are headed. I'm so happy for our team and our program and the way they represent Weber State University and the Big Sky Conference.”
Weber State is now 6-0 all-time in Big Sky Conference tournament games, including a 3-0 mark against Idaho State.
Sophomore second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff, Bohling, sophomore catcher Molly Horne, and Hingsberger were each named to the all-tournament team.
“We had a great atmosphere to play at home in front of our fans and families,” Amicone added. “Many thanks to our athletics staff for all their hard work, and the excellent way they ran the tournament. Tournament Director Ron Goch, along with Brady Yamashita and the grounds crew staff went above and beyond. I couldn't be happier for our seniors to win the conference tournament at home in their final game at Wildcat Softball Field.”
