by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Portland State at Weber State Softball Tournament Recap
The Weber State Wildcats stumbled in their introduction to conference play, dropping two of three battles against the Portland State Vikings. After almost three weeks without playing, WSU struggled against one of the biggest threats to the Big Sky crown.
Though a 1-2 record in the conference wasn’t how they envisioned beginning their campaign to reclaim their thrown, the Wildcats played competitive softball. Each game was within striking distance, and they showed off their potential throughout the series, including a historic performance from Mika Chong.
Friday, April 7
Portland State at Weber State 12-8
It didn’t take long before these teams showcased their firepower. The Vikings got on the board first from a bases-loaded walk that forced in a run, but Amanda Johnson got out of the jam with minimal damage. The Wildcats didn’t allow this to go unanswered, though, with a Lauren Hoe sac fly and Sarah Ruhl single giving Weber State a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. The teams exchanged one run each in the second inning to bring the score to 3-2 WSU before a silent third.
It’s always quiet before the storm, and that was proven in this contest. After the scoreless third, Portland State lit up Amanda Johnson for six runs, highlighted by a Trinity Holden three-run blast to center field. The Viking rally was crippling for the Wildcats, but they tried to hold on with a little rally of their own, bringing the score to 8-5 after the fourth inning. Natalie Martinez added another run with a solo home run in the fifth, but WSU made things more interesting thanks to a two-run Gianna Memoli triple, adding a third run after she scored off of a wild pitch.
Unfortunately, that would be it for the offensive production for Weber State. Portland State scored three more insurance runs thanks to a poor-timed error, but it did not impact the result of the contest. Amanda Johnson was credited with the loss after her five-inning performance, but Jayci Finch and Madison Peterson also got roughed up in the high-scoring affair.
Saturday, April 8
Portland State at Weber State 6-4
The first contest of Saturday’s doubleheader could be defined as an inability to take advantage of a historic performance. Mika Chong was the Wildcat to make history with her three-home-run outburst, breaking the school record for most home runs in a game. The sophomore catcher supplied Weber State with all four of its runs, but the team saw little production outside of her talents. Outside of Chong’s performance, the Wildcats produced three hits and one walk, McCuistion coming around the bases on Chong’s third-inning blast.
Third and fourth-inning rallies were all Portland State needed to put away WSU. Paetynn Lopez and Emily Johansen carried their offense with a combined three hits and four RBI, helping the Vikings get the edge over the Wildcats.
Brooke Hatfield was given the loss for Weber State in her 3.1-inning performance, allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks. Jayci Finch impressed in her 3.2-inning outing, only allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three.
Saturday, April 9
Portland State at Weber State 2-4
The Wildcats avoided dropping their first three conference games with a win in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Though the Vikings had a fairly decent performance offensively – better than WSU in many regards – Weber State took advantage of their opportunities to lift them to their first Big Sky victory.
Whatever the Vikings did, the Wildcats were close behind. Portland State got on the board in the first inning off of a Bailee Noland single, but Katelyn Whiting smashed a left-field home run to tie things at 1-1 after the initial inning of play. Logan Riggenbach gave the Vikings a 2-1 lead from an RBI double in the top of the third, but Sarah Ruhl took Weber State’s first lead with a two-run double in the fourth. Chong granted WSU an insurance run in the fifth, but they already had all they needed to overcome the Vikings.
Much of this victory should be credited to Amanda Johnson and Brooke Hatfield for working out of jams. Portland State left 13 runners on base in the contest, hitting the ball 11 times while walking eight times. This was more productive than Weber State’s six hits and three walks, but the Wildcats made the most of their chances. Johnson was given the win in the duel.
What’s to Come
After their first weekend of conference play, the Wildcats have a non-conference game Tuesday against the Utah Utes that will be their last out-of-conference game of the season.
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