by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Weber State Utah Recap
The Weber State Wildcats traveled to Salt Lake City to face the #25-ranked Utah Utes, falling short of an impressive victory after a late-game collapse. WSU was firmly in charge for much of this contest, but the Utes stormed back late to put out any Wildcat hope.
The loss brings Weber State to a 7-23 overall record and concludes their non-conference play. It is demoralizing to leave with the loss, but an impressive feat to give a top team a run for its money. Hopefully, a battle like this will kickstart the Wildcats in the rest of their conference season.
A League of Their Own
The Wildcats were the first to get a run on the board in the late-afternoon duel between the Utah native teams. Lauren Hoe granted WSU the run with a solo shot to left field in the top of the second inning, getting her back on pace after a poor series against Portland State. Utah quickly responded with a Kendall Lundeberg double to tie things at one in the bottom half of the inning before Faith Hoe blasted a two-run home run to retake the lead in the top of the third. The game-shifting homer was the first of Faith Hoe’s season. The Hoe twins were an essential part of Weber State’s effort to control a good portion of this game.
An ill-timed error and RBI double evened things up by the end of the fifth inning at three all, but McKell McCuistion was determined to find her groove again, too, sending Lauren Hoe home on a double to right center field. Unfortunately, the bottom half of the sixth inning is when the game got messy for Weber State.
Code Red
It was fairly smooth sailing for Madison Peterson on the mound before entering the bottom of the sixth. She recorded the first out of the inning before walking the next two batters and being replaced by Amanda Johnson.
Johnson forced the second out of the inning before things hit the fan. The two-out rally from the Utes started with loading the bases from a hit-by pitch, then clearing the bases with a Bonstrom triple. With the score now 6-4, Utah was in firm command of the game, pouring on four more runs before leaving their half of the inning. It was a matter of time before one of the nation’s top teams started to click. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they nearly escaped with the win before it happened.
Peterson (0-6) was credited with the loss after a skillful performance against a formidable offense, but the pitching staff didn’t hold on long enough to see through the victory.
What’s to Come
The Wildcats stay on the road but return to conference play in a three-game series against the Sacramento State Hornets beginning at 11 am, Friday, April 14.
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