Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, May 1
Ogden
Noon
Weber State University
23-15, 13-2
6
vs
3
Portland State
11-24, 8-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Weber State | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | X | 6 | 10 | 0 |
Wildcats Clinch Big Sky Title with Win Over Vikings
5/1/2021 7:51:00 PM | Softball
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State earned its fourth Big Sky regular season championship on Saturday, clinching the title with three league games left in the season as they defeated Portland State 6-3 on Senior Day at Wildcat Softball Field.
"It was exciting (today)," said Ashlyn Visser. "With last year being cut, and having to not necessarily rebuild, but having a lot of new players, made us get gritty. And that's what we did today and yesterday. We just had a gritty win in both of the games we won (this weekend)."
As they did twice on Friday, Portland State jumped out to an early lead, this time scoring a single run in the opening inning off of Wildcat starter Kate Donaldson as Rachel Menlove drove a ball off the wall in center field for an RBI double.
This game, the Wildcats didn't wait long to respond, quickly taking the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Chloe Camarero ripped the first pitch she saw from Allicitie Frost to the wall in center for a triple, driving home Katelyn Whiting to tie the game. Visser followed with a sacrifice fly to score Camarero and the Wildcats led 2-1 after one inning.
Emily Johansen equalized for the Vikings in the top of the second, taking Donaldson deep for a solo home run, and after a scoreless inning and a half, the game went to the fourth inning tied at 2-2.
The Vikings scored a run on a fielder's choice in their half of the inning, and the Wildcats responded in their half as Makayla Donahoo doubled down the right field line to plate Noelle Foster.
In the fifth, the Wildcats took control of the game with a two-out, two run rally. Visser doubled to right center to get things going, and Faith Hoe, Noelle Foster and Lauren Hoe each followed with consecutive singles to put WSU ahead 5-3.
"(This team) is gritty. They learned a lot yesterday, we all did, about things. And we're not done learning. So she (Ashlyn) has been a fighter her whole career, and for her to step up and do that says a lot about her, and the group behind her, to get it done that late in the game."
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the sixth and Mariah Ramirez shut the Vikings out over the final three innings to earn the win, her 12th of the season.
Rushton, Lauren Hoe and Donahoo each recorded two hits for the Wildcats, while Camarero led the team with two RBI on the day.
Following the game, the Wildcats celebrated not only the championship, but the accomplishments of an impressive group of seniors. With the 2020 season canceled midway through the schedule due to the covid pandemic, last year's group had their season ended prematurely and did not get a season-ending Senior Day. This year, the Wildcats invited back that group and celebrating alongside this year's group of Visser, Kate Donaldson, Hailey Fisher were 2020 graduates Takesha Saltern, Jordan Lockhart and Landi Hawker.
"Today was really a lot of storybook stuff," said head coach Mary Kay Amicone. "A year ago, there was so much stuff that was difficult. It's just tremendous the bond that they've built with each other. To have (last year's class) here for this a big help for them to move forward, but it was storybook.
"I'm really proud of how close this group is. How tight and supportive and loving and kind they are to each other. They've been through so many things on so many levels. Just to see them continue to grow in that is just amazing. It's been very cool to watch them do that. Because, we're a totally new team. You can't take those players that we just honored out of the picture with their remarkable stat lines. That crew started their whole career, and poof, they're gone. So to see our youngsters come in and just be so competitive and buy in to what we taught was really, really key."
The Wildcats, who improved to 23-15 overall and 13-2 in Big Sky play, will face Utah in a non-conference game on Tuesday, May 4 before heading to Montana for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday to wrap up the regular season. They will then return home May 13-15 to host the Big Sky Conference tournament at Wildcat Softball Field. Portland State dropped to 11-24 overall and 8-10 in conference play.
"It was exciting (today)," said Ashlyn Visser. "With last year being cut, and having to not necessarily rebuild, but having a lot of new players, made us get gritty. And that's what we did today and yesterday. We just had a gritty win in both of the games we won (this weekend)."
As they did twice on Friday, Portland State jumped out to an early lead, this time scoring a single run in the opening inning off of Wildcat starter Kate Donaldson as Rachel Menlove drove a ball off the wall in center field for an RBI double.
This game, the Wildcats didn't wait long to respond, quickly taking the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Chloe Camarero ripped the first pitch she saw from Allicitie Frost to the wall in center for a triple, driving home Katelyn Whiting to tie the game. Visser followed with a sacrifice fly to score Camarero and the Wildcats led 2-1 after one inning.
Emily Johansen equalized for the Vikings in the top of the second, taking Donaldson deep for a solo home run, and after a scoreless inning and a half, the game went to the fourth inning tied at 2-2.
The Vikings scored a run on a fielder's choice in their half of the inning, and the Wildcats responded in their half as Makayla Donahoo doubled down the right field line to plate Noelle Foster.
In the fifth, the Wildcats took control of the game with a two-out, two run rally. Visser doubled to right center to get things going, and Faith Hoe, Noelle Foster and Lauren Hoe each followed with consecutive singles to put WSU ahead 5-3.
"(This team) is gritty. They learned a lot yesterday, we all did, about things. And we're not done learning. So she (Ashlyn) has been a fighter her whole career, and for her to step up and do that says a lot about her, and the group behind her, to get it done that late in the game."
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the sixth and Mariah Ramirez shut the Vikings out over the final three innings to earn the win, her 12th of the season.
Rushton, Lauren Hoe and Donahoo each recorded two hits for the Wildcats, while Camarero led the team with two RBI on the day.
Following the game, the Wildcats celebrated not only the championship, but the accomplishments of an impressive group of seniors. With the 2020 season canceled midway through the schedule due to the covid pandemic, last year's group had their season ended prematurely and did not get a season-ending Senior Day. This year, the Wildcats invited back that group and celebrating alongside this year's group of Visser, Kate Donaldson, Hailey Fisher were 2020 graduates Takesha Saltern, Jordan Lockhart and Landi Hawker.
"Today was really a lot of storybook stuff," said head coach Mary Kay Amicone. "A year ago, there was so much stuff that was difficult. It's just tremendous the bond that they've built with each other. To have (last year's class) here for this a big help for them to move forward, but it was storybook.
"I'm really proud of how close this group is. How tight and supportive and loving and kind they are to each other. They've been through so many things on so many levels. Just to see them continue to grow in that is just amazing. It's been very cool to watch them do that. Because, we're a totally new team. You can't take those players that we just honored out of the picture with their remarkable stat lines. That crew started their whole career, and poof, they're gone. So to see our youngsters come in and just be so competitive and buy in to what we taught was really, really key."
The Wildcats, who improved to 23-15 overall and 13-2 in Big Sky play, will face Utah in a non-conference game on Tuesday, May 4 before heading to Montana for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday to wrap up the regular season. They will then return home May 13-15 to host the Big Sky Conference tournament at Wildcat Softball Field. Portland State dropped to 11-24 overall and 8-10 in conference play.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ramirez, Mariah (12-6)
L: Marisol Gaona (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Rachel Menlove 1 ; Tayler Gunesch 1
HR: Emily Johansen 1
RBI: Olivia Dean 1 ; Rachel Menlove 1 ; Emily Johansen 1
SH: Ariana Abalos 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olivia Dean 1 ; Emily Johansen 1 ; Maddie Thompson 1
SB: Olivia Dean 1 ; Maddie Thompson 1
Batting:
2B: Visser, Ashlyn 1 ; Donahoo, Makayla 1
3B: Camarero, Chloe 1
RBI: Camarero, Chloe 2 ; Visser, Ashlyn 1 ; Hoe, Faith 1 ; Hoe, Lauren 1 ; Donahoo, Makayla 1
SH: Ruhl, Emily 1
SF: Camarero, Chloe 1 ; Visser, Ashlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whiting, Katelyn 1 ; Camarero, Chloe 1 ; Blanchard, Baylee 1 ; Hoe, Faith 1 ; Foster, Noelle 1 ; Donahoo, Makayla 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballMI
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP/IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
U
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