Weber State University Athletics
Friday, February 10
Las Vegas, NV
12:30 MT
Weber State University
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Photo by: Robert Casey
Wildcat Softball Opens Season, Falls Against Top-Tier Competition in Vegas
2/10/2023 6:15:00 PM | Softball
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Weber State Wildcat softball started its 2023 season on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader against Baylor and No. 7 Arkansas. The Wildcats fell to the Bears 8-4, followed by an 8-0 (5) loss to the seventh-ranked Razorbacks.
The day started with a bang for the Wildcats. After shutting out Baylor in the top of the first, perennial all-conference performer Faith Hoe led the game off with a walk. Mika Chong sent a double to the outfield that brought Faith around to score and give the Wildcats their initial run of the season.
In stepped Wildcat legend Lauren Hoe.
In her first at bat of the 2023 season, Lauren, one of the most power hitters in Weber State history, sent the softball high into the blue Las Vegas sky and over the fence for a home run. Her first dinger of the season gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Baylor came surging from behind and scored five unanswered runs before the 'Cats were able to get back on the board in the fifth. Faith Hoe led the bottom of the inning off by taking four balls and scampered to second base following a wild pitch. An infield groundout advanced Hoe to third, before McKell McCuistion brought Faith in to score on another groundout. WSU trailed by just one run.
Unfortunately, that was as close as Weber State could get on the day. Baylor closed out strong and won its second game of the day by a final score of 8-4.
WSU followed that up by staying on the field to play the seventh-ranked and defending SEC champion Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Wildcats started off with Chong walking and McCuistion punching a single into the outfield but were unable to bring the runners home. Arkansas plated five runs in their half of the inning.
In the top of the third, Faith Hoe walked to start things off. Her twin sister Lauren smacked the ball past the infield for the 'Cats' second hit of the game and moved Faith over to third base, but WSU left a pair of runners stranded to finish its half of the inning.
Weber State had several other Wildcats reach base via walk, but couldn't get anyone to score to keep up the pace with Arkansas who scored a run in the second, third, and fourth innings, giving the Razorbacks an 8-0 victory in five innings.
NOTABLES
-Lauren Hoe's home run in the first inning of the Baylor game was her 23rd career home run, moving her into sole possession of second place for most home runs in a career by any Wildcat in program history.
-Amanda Johnson was the starter and the pitcher of record against Baylor. She struck out two hitters in her 3.2 IP.
-Faith Hoe reached base three times in WSU's game against Baylor, going 1-2 at the plate, walking twice, and scoring a pair of runs.
-Brooke Hatfield started the game against Arkansas and struck out a pair of Razorbacks in her 1.1 IP.
-Katelyn Whiting led the Wildcats with a couple of walks in Friday's game against Arkansas.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats take the field in Las Vegas for another doubleheader on Saturday. WSU faces Arkansas at 10 AM MT, followed by another game at 5:30 against the tournament host UNLV Rebels at 5:30 PM MT. Both games can be seen on YouTube.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State softball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
The day started with a bang for the Wildcats. After shutting out Baylor in the top of the first, perennial all-conference performer Faith Hoe led the game off with a walk. Mika Chong sent a double to the outfield that brought Faith around to score and give the Wildcats their initial run of the season.
In stepped Wildcat legend Lauren Hoe.
In her first at bat of the 2023 season, Lauren, one of the most power hitters in Weber State history, sent the softball high into the blue Las Vegas sky and over the fence for a home run. Her first dinger of the season gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Baylor came surging from behind and scored five unanswered runs before the 'Cats were able to get back on the board in the fifth. Faith Hoe led the bottom of the inning off by taking four balls and scampered to second base following a wild pitch. An infield groundout advanced Hoe to third, before McKell McCuistion brought Faith in to score on another groundout. WSU trailed by just one run.
Unfortunately, that was as close as Weber State could get on the day. Baylor closed out strong and won its second game of the day by a final score of 8-4.
WSU followed that up by staying on the field to play the seventh-ranked and defending SEC champion Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Wildcats started off with Chong walking and McCuistion punching a single into the outfield but were unable to bring the runners home. Arkansas plated five runs in their half of the inning.
In the top of the third, Faith Hoe walked to start things off. Her twin sister Lauren smacked the ball past the infield for the 'Cats' second hit of the game and moved Faith over to third base, but WSU left a pair of runners stranded to finish its half of the inning.
Weber State had several other Wildcats reach base via walk, but couldn't get anyone to score to keep up the pace with Arkansas who scored a run in the second, third, and fourth innings, giving the Razorbacks an 8-0 victory in five innings.
NOTABLES
-Lauren Hoe's home run in the first inning of the Baylor game was her 23rd career home run, moving her into sole possession of second place for most home runs in a career by any Wildcat in program history.
-Amanda Johnson was the starter and the pitcher of record against Baylor. She struck out two hitters in her 3.2 IP.
-Faith Hoe reached base three times in WSU's game against Baylor, going 1-2 at the plate, walking twice, and scoring a pair of runs.
-Brooke Hatfield started the game against Arkansas and struck out a pair of Razorbacks in her 1.1 IP.
-Katelyn Whiting led the Wildcats with a couple of walks in Friday's game against Arkansas.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats take the field in Las Vegas for another doubleheader on Saturday. WSU faces Arkansas at 10 AM MT, followed by another game at 5:30 against the tournament host UNLV Rebels at 5:30 PM MT. Both games can be seen on YouTube.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State softball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Aliyah Binford (1-0)
L: Johnson, Amanda (0-1)
S: RyLee Crandall (1)
Batting:
2B: Amber Toven 1
RBI: McKenzie Wilson 1 ; Shaylon Govan 2 ; Ana Watson 2 ; Amber Toven 1
SF: Shaylon Govan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKenzie Wilson 2 ; Presleigh Pilon 1 ; Emily Hott 2 ; Ana Watson 2 ; Caroline Rowatt 1
SB: McKenzie Wilson 1 ; Amber Toven 1
HBP: Amber Toven 1
Batting:
2B: Chong, Mika 1
HR: Hoe, Lauren 1
RBI: Chong, Mika 1 ; McCuistion, McKell 1 ; Hoe, Lauren 2
SH: Donahoo, Makayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoe, Faith 2 ; Chong, Mika 1 ; Hoe, Lauren 1
HBP: Rushton, Mia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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IF/P
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
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IF
/ SoftballOF
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