Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
North Dakota
Wildcat softball rallies for sweep of North Dakota
4/1/2017 10:51:00 PM | Softball
OGDEN – It was her only hit of the afternoon, but Rae Gall's fifth-inning triple couldn't have come at a better time.
The junior left fielder smashed a bases-loaded triple to deep right field, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead, as the Weber State University softball team used an eight-run inning to rally for an 8-4 win over North Dakota on Saturday at Wildcat Softball Complex.
The win earned the Wildcats a three-game series sweep of the Fighting Hawks, as Weber State improved to 4-1 in Big Sky Conference play, moving into sole possession of the league lead at the end of the second weekend. Weber State also improved to 20-11-1 overall, the Wildcats' fourth straight 20-win season under head coach Mary Kay Amicone.
"I loved our adjustments today," Amicone said. "We kept pressure on them throughout the game. Rae really opened up the game with that triple.Â
"We had a great crowd today, and we really appreciate the support."
Freshman center fielder Landi Hawker was 3-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, while freshman shortstop Sydney White was 2-for-2 with a two-RBI double and junior second baseman McKinley Brinkerhoff was 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Wildcats.
Junior right-hander Kirtlyn Bohling picked up her 12th win of the year, and 40th career win, in the circle as she allowed five hits and three runs with three strikeouts in five innings of work.
Trailing 3-0 after a three-run third inning by the Fighting Hawks (1-5 Big Sky, 13-23 overall), Weber State caught fire in the fifth inning.
Brinkerhoff led off the inning with a bunt single, and White reached on a sacrifice bunt and error by North Dakota's pitcher, giving the Wildcats two on with no outs.
Freshman right fielder Takesha Saltern smacked an RBI single to left field, successfully extending her hitting streak to 15 straight games and her streak of safely reaching base to 28 games, to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Hawker walked to load up the bases with one out, and junior catcher Molly Horne had a bases-loaded RBI walk to make it 3-2, setting the stage for Gall's triple that gave the Wildcats their first lead at 5-3.
Senior first baseman Sara Hingsberger had a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat to make it 6-3 with the bases clear, but the Wildcats weren't done yet as senior third baseman KyRae Kogianes reach on an error by the Fighting Hawks' shortstop and Brinkerhoff singled to put two on, setting up White's two RBI double to left field that push the lead to 8-3.
North Dakota pulled one run back in the sixth, but that's all the offense it would generate as the Wildcats completed the three-game sweep.
Weber State will return to the road in Big Sky action next weekend as the Wildcats travel to face Northern Colorado on Friday and Saturday in Greeley, Colo.Â
