Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, February 18
Phoenix, AZ
1:30 PM
Weber State University
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Oregon State
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Oregon State
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Photo by: Robert Casey
Wildcats Record Historic Victory in Littlewood Classic
2/18/2023 10:10:00 PM | Softball
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Another day in the Littlewood Classic has come and gone, and the Weber State Wildcat softball team recorded a historic 3-0 victory over Oregon State, followed by a defeat to a tough GCU squad.
Oregon State, a team who advanced all the way to the 2022 College World Series as one of the eight best teams in NCAA softball, was ranked in the top 25 to start the season. Weber State put together a dominant performance against the Beavers on Saturday.
The Wildcats wasted no time getting on the board. Faith Hoe led the game off by putting together a masterful at bat, working the count full and drawing a walk. McKell McCuistion followed her up by hitting a laser into the outfield that brought Faith all the way home to score. McCuistion was thrown out trying to advance to third base.
2022 all-conference performer Mika Chong stepped into the batter's box after the Wildcats got on the board, and slammed a home run into the blue Phoenix sky. Just like that, the Wildcats doubled their lead over the PAC-12's Beavers.
It was three up, three down for OSU in the top of the second inning which brought up the Wildcat bats. Freshman Victoria Rey recorded her second collegiate hit, and Mia Rushton followed that up with an infield single, Rey was held at first. McCuistion's second hit of the game moved the runners up a base, each, and Chong hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Rey from third. WSU took a 3-0 lead.
Queue Amanda Johnson.
Johnson, who was terrific in Friday's outing against DePaul in which she tossed a career-high eight strikeouts, followed that effort up with another gem against the Beavers. She faced another trio of OSU bats in the third, all of which were retired.
Same in the fourth.
The Beavers had a leadoff base runner, but the next three hitters sat down in the fifth inning.
The sixth: three up, three down.
Heading to the top of the seventh, Weber State's 3-0 lead was still intact and the Beavers were down to their final chances to extend the game.
Johnson got a lead off fly out, followed by a line out to first base for the second out. How did WSU's ace cap off her masterful, historic performance against one of the nation's best programs? She recorded a swinging strikeout to give the 'Cats their first-ever victory over the PAC-12 powerhouse. Weber State (3-5) recorded the 3-0 victory behind a two-hit masterclass from Johnson.
Weber State took to the field again against Littlewood Classic co-hosts and 2022 NCAA tournament team GCU, but the Wildcat bats couldn't get going and the Lopes defended their home field with a 6-0 victory.
NOTABLES
-Johnson was the pitcher of record for the game against Oregon State. Her final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 SO. Her record improves to 3-2.
-McCuistion led the team with three hits in four at bats against Oregon State.
-Chong drove in two runs against the Beavers to lead WSU.
UP NEXT
Weber State is wraps up the Littlewood Classic on Sunday, February 19 at 10:30 AM against No. 22 Arizona State. The game will be played in Tempe and can be seen on pac12.com.
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.
Oregon State, a team who advanced all the way to the 2022 College World Series as one of the eight best teams in NCAA softball, was ranked in the top 25 to start the season. Weber State put together a dominant performance against the Beavers on Saturday.
The Wildcats wasted no time getting on the board. Faith Hoe led the game off by putting together a masterful at bat, working the count full and drawing a walk. McKell McCuistion followed her up by hitting a laser into the outfield that brought Faith all the way home to score. McCuistion was thrown out trying to advance to third base.
2022 all-conference performer Mika Chong stepped into the batter's box after the Wildcats got on the board, and slammed a home run into the blue Phoenix sky. Just like that, the Wildcats doubled their lead over the PAC-12's Beavers.
It was three up, three down for OSU in the top of the second inning which brought up the Wildcat bats. Freshman Victoria Rey recorded her second collegiate hit, and Mia Rushton followed that up with an infield single, Rey was held at first. McCuistion's second hit of the game moved the runners up a base, each, and Chong hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Rey from third. WSU took a 3-0 lead.
Queue Amanda Johnson.
Johnson, who was terrific in Friday's outing against DePaul in which she tossed a career-high eight strikeouts, followed that effort up with another gem against the Beavers. She faced another trio of OSU bats in the third, all of which were retired.
Same in the fourth.
The Beavers had a leadoff base runner, but the next three hitters sat down in the fifth inning.
The sixth: three up, three down.
Heading to the top of the seventh, Weber State's 3-0 lead was still intact and the Beavers were down to their final chances to extend the game.
Johnson got a lead off fly out, followed by a line out to first base for the second out. How did WSU's ace cap off her masterful, historic performance against one of the nation's best programs? She recorded a swinging strikeout to give the 'Cats their first-ever victory over the PAC-12 powerhouse. Weber State (3-5) recorded the 3-0 victory behind a two-hit masterclass from Johnson.
Weber State took to the field again against Littlewood Classic co-hosts and 2022 NCAA tournament team GCU, but the Wildcat bats couldn't get going and the Lopes defended their home field with a 6-0 victory.
NOTABLES
-Johnson was the pitcher of record for the game against Oregon State. Her final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 SO. Her record improves to 3-2.
-McCuistion led the team with three hits in four at bats against Oregon State.
-Chong drove in two runs against the Beavers to lead WSU.
UP NEXT
Weber State is wraps up the Littlewood Classic on Sunday, February 19 at 10:30 AM against No. 22 Arizona State. The game will be played in Tempe and can be seen on pac12.com.
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: Johnson, Amanda (3-2)
L: Ellie Garcia (1-2)
Base Running:
HBP: Abby Doerr 1
Batting:
2B: McCuistion, McKell 1
HR: Chong, Mika 1
RBI: McCuistion, McKell 1 ; Chong, Mika 3
SF: Chong, Mika 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoe, Faith 1 ; Chong, Mika 1 ; Rey, Victoria 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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