Weber State softball wins 2 games at Cal Baptist tournament
Weber State softball claimed two victories in a five-game tournament held Friday through Sunday at Cal Baptist in Riverside, California, highlighted by a complete-game shutout by pitcher Cali McCraw.
WSU (3-7) won both its games on Saturday. First, in a 7-6 win over Cal State Bakersfield, Makayla Donahoo scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth to score the winning run.
McCraw pitched the final 1 2/3 innings in the win, allowing one hit but facing the minimum five batters. Shortstop Taegan Smith hit 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases.
McCraw then got the start in Saturday’s second game, against host Cal Baptist, and allowed four hits in a complete-game shutout, striking out three and walking one in a 2-0 victory. Catcher Eva Richardson (2 for 3) singled in Kiaira Smith (2 for 3) in the second inning, and Sarah Ruhl hit a sacrifice fly to score Riley Whalen in the seventh.
The Wildcats also lost 4-1 to Cal Baptist and bookended the trip with two tough losses to Utah State. Friday, WSU outhit the Aggies 11-6 but lost 3-2. Sunday morning, USU took a 4-2 victory after WSU left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
Layton High alum Brooklyn Pritchett hit 2 for 4 with one run scored for Utah State in the two games against WSU.
For the season, Taegan Smith leads WSU by hitting .367 in 10 games. Kiaira Smith is hitting .333. McCraw carries a 1.27 ERA in a team-leading 21 1/3 innings.
Weber State next plays in a tournament Feb. 23-25 hosted by Utah Tech in St. George. WSU plays Utah Tech once, Eastern Kentucky twice and Utah State twice more.