Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
No. 11 Washington
Wildcats fall to Huskies in regional opener
5/21/2016 6:44:00 AM | Softball
SEATTLE – The Wildcats threw the first punch, but the Huskies just had too much power in the end.
The Weber State University softball team fell 14-6 in five innings in its 2016 NCAA Regionals opener against No. 11 seed Washington on Friday night at Husky Softball Field.
The Wildcats, who fell to 37-18 overall, will face North Dakota State at 4:30 p.m. MT on Saturday in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to face the loser of Saturday's 2 p.m. MT regional semifinal between Washington and Minnesota.
The Wildcats got off the hot start in the game, with senior third baseman Alyson Kulp leading off with a single, and moving to second on a sacrifice but by freshman designated player JaeCie Wilson. Senior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer drew a four-ball walk, before junior right fielder Sara Hingsberger smashed her first pitch off Washington's outfield ad board to give Weber State the 3-0 lead.
Hingsberger's home run was her 15th of the season, and gave the Eagle, Idaho, native the honor of being the first player in Wildcat history to have an RBI in NCAA Regionals play. Hingsberger finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs scored as she also had a double and a single.
Junior Riana Splinter had a sacrifice fly RBI in the second inning with the bases loaded that came achingly close to being a grand slam as Washington's center fielder made the catch pressed against the outfield wall, putting Weber State in front 4-2.
The Huskies staged a five-run rally to make it 7-4 after two and then pushed the lead to 11-4 after three.
The Wildcats plated two runs on two-out RBI double to center field by senior first baseman Krystin Kubo, cutting the deficit to 11-6, but Washington pushed three runs across in the bottom of the inning to end it.
Weber State finished the game with nine hits.
