Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, February 19
Las Vegas, NV
1:00 PM MT
Weber State University
6-2
6
vs
5
Kansas City
1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kansas City
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
5
5
0
Weber State
1
1
1
2
0
0
1
6
12
1
Photo by: Robert Casey
Softball Sweeps Roos, Rebs, Extends Historic Start to the Season
2/19/2022 11:24:00 PM | Softball
Weber State Wildcat softball extended its hot start to the season by racking up a 6-5 win over Kansas City, followed by a 6-1 victory over the UNLV Rebels.
The Wildcats were first to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the opening inning. Some savvy on the basepaths ended up scoring Mia Rushton from third after she doubled to center field and advanced on a groundout.
In the bottom of the second, following a Katelyn Whiting walk and singles by Emily Ruhl and Makayla Donahoo to load the bases, it was Rushton once again who came through for the Cats. A sacrifice fly to left-center field was deep enough to bring Whiting home and give WSU a 2-0 lead in the second.
That lead was short lived.
The top of the third saw plenty of fireworks for the Kansas City bats. After a few walks and a few hits, the Roos were able to pass the baton and score five runs in the inning to steal a 5-2 lead from Weber State.
Faith Hoe continued her torrid start at the dish as she led the bottom of the third off with a triple, and was brought home by Lauren Hoe on a no-out single to make it a 5-3 ballgame. The score remained until the bottom of the fourth.
Donahoo reached on a single and scored on the next batter when Rushton hit a triple. McKell McCuistion hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that was good enough to score Rushton and level the game at five.
With the game tied entering the late innings, it was time for Mariah Ramirez to go to work.
Ramirez retired nine of the next 11 batters she faced, including a pair of strikeouts, and held the Roos scoreless for the remainder of the day. For the game, Ramirez went 6.0 IP, 2 H, 6 K, and 0 ER in the game on Saturday night.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Mika Chong collected her second-ever collegiate hit with a single past the shortstop. Aliya Harmon was brought on to pinch run, and who else but Faith Hoe stepped up to the plate. It was Hoe's gifted bat that struck the ball past the second baseman to that scored the runner and walked it off for the Wildcats. Hoe finished the night going 2-4 with a triple and the game-winning RBI.
That win improved Weber State to 6-2 and improved its winning streak to four consecutive games.
The come from behind effort also gave the Cats the opportunity to sweep the weekend from the Roos and the Rebels.
In the top of the first against UNLV with three runners on, it was a wild pitch that scored McCuistion to give WSU the game's initial lead.
UNLV responded in their half of the inning with runners on first and third and a single hit up the middle to knot the game at one run apiece.
It didn't take Weber State long to send a statement, however, as they started a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Rushton singled which set the stage for McCuistion to yank a pitch beyond the right field fence for her first home run of the season and setting Weber State up with a 3-1 lead. Chloe Camarero was the very next batter and she sent a payoff pitch into orbit to give WSU back-to-back jacks and extend the Wildcat advantage. That was Camarero's Big Sky Conference leading fifth home run of the season.
In the top of the third, Whiting reached on a single and stole second to get herself into scoring position. Ruhl got a base knock to bring Whiting around from second base and make it 5-1 in favor of Weber State.
The only other Wildcat run on the day was in the top of the fourth inning and it was Noelle Foster who came home on a bouncer from Camarero to the short stop to put Weber State up by five runs, and that's how the game would end. Tremendous pitching from Amanda Sink and Ramirez kept UNLV in check all night, holding them scoreless throughout the rest of the game.
A 6-1 win for Weber State extends the current winning streak to five games in a row. It also gives the Wildcats a 7-2 start through nine games, making it the best start for Weber State under Head Coach Mary Kay Amicone.
Weber State is set to square off against Dixie State on Sunday in St. George in what has become a budding in-state rivalry. The Trailblazers lead the overall series 7-3 and have won two of the last three meetings against each other. The Cats will also return to St. George next week for a tournament hosted by Dixie State.
Â
The Wildcats were first to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the opening inning. Some savvy on the basepaths ended up scoring Mia Rushton from third after she doubled to center field and advanced on a groundout.
In the bottom of the second, following a Katelyn Whiting walk and singles by Emily Ruhl and Makayla Donahoo to load the bases, it was Rushton once again who came through for the Cats. A sacrifice fly to left-center field was deep enough to bring Whiting home and give WSU a 2-0 lead in the second.
That lead was short lived.
The top of the third saw plenty of fireworks for the Kansas City bats. After a few walks and a few hits, the Roos were able to pass the baton and score five runs in the inning to steal a 5-2 lead from Weber State.
Faith Hoe continued her torrid start at the dish as she led the bottom of the third off with a triple, and was brought home by Lauren Hoe on a no-out single to make it a 5-3 ballgame. The score remained until the bottom of the fourth.
Donahoo reached on a single and scored on the next batter when Rushton hit a triple. McKell McCuistion hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that was good enough to score Rushton and level the game at five.
With the game tied entering the late innings, it was time for Mariah Ramirez to go to work.
Ramirez retired nine of the next 11 batters she faced, including a pair of strikeouts, and held the Roos scoreless for the remainder of the day. For the game, Ramirez went 6.0 IP, 2 H, 6 K, and 0 ER in the game on Saturday night.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Mika Chong collected her second-ever collegiate hit with a single past the shortstop. Aliya Harmon was brought on to pinch run, and who else but Faith Hoe stepped up to the plate. It was Hoe's gifted bat that struck the ball past the second baseman to that scored the runner and walked it off for the Wildcats. Hoe finished the night going 2-4 with a triple and the game-winning RBI.
That win improved Weber State to 6-2 and improved its winning streak to four consecutive games.
The come from behind effort also gave the Cats the opportunity to sweep the weekend from the Roos and the Rebels.
In the top of the first against UNLV with three runners on, it was a wild pitch that scored McCuistion to give WSU the game's initial lead.
UNLV responded in their half of the inning with runners on first and third and a single hit up the middle to knot the game at one run apiece.
It didn't take Weber State long to send a statement, however, as they started a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Rushton singled which set the stage for McCuistion to yank a pitch beyond the right field fence for her first home run of the season and setting Weber State up with a 3-1 lead. Chloe Camarero was the very next batter and she sent a payoff pitch into orbit to give WSU back-to-back jacks and extend the Wildcat advantage. That was Camarero's Big Sky Conference leading fifth home run of the season.
In the top of the third, Whiting reached on a single and stole second to get herself into scoring position. Ruhl got a base knock to bring Whiting around from second base and make it 5-1 in favor of Weber State.
The only other Wildcat run on the day was in the top of the fourth inning and it was Noelle Foster who came home on a bouncer from Camarero to the short stop to put Weber State up by five runs, and that's how the game would end. Tremendous pitching from Amanda Sink and Ramirez kept UNLV in check all night, holding them scoreless throughout the rest of the game.
A 6-1 win for Weber State extends the current winning streak to five games in a row. It also gives the Wildcats a 7-2 start through nine games, making it the best start for Weber State under Head Coach Mary Kay Amicone.
Weber State is set to square off against Dixie State on Sunday in St. George in what has become a budding in-state rivalry. The Trailblazers lead the overall series 7-3 and have won two of the last three meetings against each other. The Cats will also return to St. George next week for a tournament hosted by Dixie State.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ramirez, Mariah (4-2)
L: Camryn Stickel (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Marina Karnes 1
RBI: Kloe Hilbrenner 2 ; Alexis D'Ambrosio 2
SH: Katelyn Garcia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kloe Hilbrenner 1 ; Sydney Nichols 1 ; Ally Vonfeldt 1 ; Marina Karnes 1 ; Katelyn Garcia 1
SB: Kloe Hilbrenner 1
Batting:
2B: Rushton, Mia 1 ; McCuistion, McKell 1
3B: Rushton, Mia 1 ; Hoe, Faith 1
RBI: Rushton, Mia 2 ; McCuistion, McKell 1 ; Hoe, Faith 1 ; Hoe, Lauren 1
SH: McCuistion, McKell 1
SF: Rushton, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rushton, Mia 2 ; Harmon, Aliya 1 ; Hoe, Faith 1 ; Whiting, Katelyn 1 ; Donahoo, Makayla 1
CS: Camarero, Chloe 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballMI
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballBeyond the Bases: Episode 1
Thursday, September 11
NCAA Regionals Highlights
Tuesday, May 20
NCAA Tournament post-game press conference
Monday, May 19
Softball Big Sky Tournament Highlights
Wednesday, May 14