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Weber State's Eva Richardson (3) shouts as she high-fives head coach Kristin Delahoussaye after homering in a Big Sky first-round game Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State players celebrate after a home run during a Big Sky first-round game against Montana on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State pitcher Brooke Merrill winds to throw during a Big Sky first-round game against Montana on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State's Olivia Birkinshaw gestures after hitting a home run during a Big Sky first-round game against Montana on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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The umpire calls a strike as Weber State catcher Eva Richardson pulls the ball from her glove during a Big Sky first-round game Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State second baseman Sadie Kirk sees in a ground ball during a Big Sky first-round game against Montana on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State softball players celebrate during a Big Sky first-round game against Montana on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.

Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics

❮ ❯

It took about 29 hours past the original game time to really get going, and a few more innings for Weber State’s bats after that, but the Wildcats tallied a win to open their stay at the Big Sky Conference softball tournament Wednesday in Greeley, Colorado.

Olivia Birkinshaw homered twice and No. 3 Weber State run-ruled No. 6 Montana 9-1 in five innings to win a first-round matchup.

After Day 1 Tuesday barely got to four innings before being stopped by rain and thunderstorms, play continued Wednesday with No. 4 Northern Colorado defeating No. 5 Portland State in the resumption of their suspended game.

First pitch for WSU and Montana came at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and the teams played for 30 minutes before another weather delay that lasted 4 1/2 hours.

WSU advances to face No. 2 Sacramento State in a second-round game. As of Wednesday night, game time for that matchup had not been announced but it will likely be played early Thursday morning.

Brooke Merrill got the win in the circle for Weber State (25-29), allowing one run on three hits while striking out one and walking one in five innings.

Weber State loaded the bases in the first and second innings — one before the delay, one after — but scored just one run when Emma Bingham drew a walk in the first inning. The Wildcats left six runners on and five of them reached with one out in those innings.

Birkinshaw and catcher Eva Richardson each left the yard in the third inning with big solo swings (Birkinshaw to center and Richardson pulling a dinger to left) to put WSU up 3-0.

Merrill cruised into the fifth with the small lead when Montana (8-41) got two of its three hits in the top half, pushing across Kynzie Mohl for a 3-1 score.

But the Wildcats answered with five of the team’s nine hits for the game in the bottom of the fifth, including two triples and a home run. Bingham led off with a single and set up Birkinshaw for a two-run homer, making it 5-1.

Riley Whalen reached via error and scored on a Richardson triple. Jordan McMahon later got aboard via walk; she and Richardson scored when Taegan Smith poked a patient swing against an offspeed pitch to the right-field fence. It just missed clearing, she settled for a triple and sat aboard third base as the game-winning run with the score 8-1.

Abby Grundy delivered with two outs, pushing a single through the right side to score Smith and enact the run-rule victory.

Northern Colorado and No. 1 Idaho State got underway at 8 p.m. Wednesday and got to the fourth inning with the Bengals leading 5-2 before a rain delay stopped the game at 9:20 p.m.