Weber State softball takes down No. 1 Idaho State for Big Sky title-game berth
Kirk stars as Wildcats advance with clutch playmaking
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- Weber State’s Olivia Birkinshaw (18) slides into home plate against Idaho State catcher Jenna Kearns in a Big Sky tournament semifinal Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Greeley, Colo. Birkinshaw scored safely on the play.
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- Weber State second baseman Sadie Kirk (5) looks in a fly out during a Big Sky tournament semifinal against Idaho State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.
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- Weber State’s Olivia Birkinshaw celebrates scoring a run in a Big Sky tournament semifinal against Idaho State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.
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- Weber State’s Sadie Kirk slides to score a run during a Big Sky tournament semifinal against Idaho State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.
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- Weber State’s Mariyah Delgado prepares to bat in a Big Sky tournament semifinal against Idaho State on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Greeley, Colo.
From the start, Weber State softball’s mantra in 2025 under first-year head coach Kristin Delahoussaye has been a holdover Mary Kay Amicone-ism: be good at what you’re good at.
The No. 3 Wildcats dialed that in at the perfect time Thursday night, making plays all over the field, outhitting No. 1 Idaho State and advancing to the Big Sky Conference tournament final with a 5-2 victory over the usually powerful Bengals under the lights in Greeley, Colorado.
“We’re just trying to be on time to the ball, hit it hard, and be good at what we’re good at,” Delahoussaye said in a postgame interview on ESPN+.
Idaho State (35-16), who beat Northern Colorado 10-2 in five innings Wednesday night to begin its tournament play, started Big Sky pitcher of the year Kasey Aguinaga. But it was co-freshman of the year Sadie Kirk that decided things for Weber State (27-29); she batted 4 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and recorded six infield assists with two putouts.
“See ball, hit ball, be good at what you’re good at,” Delahoussaye said again. “(Kirk) is awesome and we’re glad to have her.”
That began in the first inning when Kirk doubled in a run, scored on an Olivia Birkinshaw single, and Birkinshaw scored on an ISU throwing error for an early 3-0 lead.
That would’ve been enough. Cali McCraw twirled a complete-game three-hitter, striking out two and pitching around four walks to earn the win, her 10th of the season.
“When you trust your stuff, it works really good,” Delahoussaye said. “When she tried to overthrow a little bit, she struggled. But she came right back and retrusted it, and we’re in a great spot.”
Two of Idaho State’s three hits came in the third inning. With one out, Alyssa Yee dropped a bunt single and McCraw hit ISU star slugger Ava Brown with a pitch. Designated hitter Olivia Robison lived up to her spot in the lineup, punching a two-run double to the centerfield wall to make the game 3-2.
But McCraw faced the minimum over the final four innings, throwing just 37 more pitches. She tossed 1-2-3 innings with no baserunners from the fourth through the sixth.
That included a sequence in which Kirk recorded five straight outs at second base (four groundout assists, one flyball putout); the freshman Kirk dove up the middle and threw out the sixth-inning’s leadoff batter from her knees during that sequence to start what was a four-pitch inning for McCraw.
It also included several other eye-popping plays throughout the night, including a tough at-the-shoelaces grab on a liner by McMahon in center field and left fielder Emma Bingham chasing down a fly ball well in foul territory with a full-layout dive and catch.
Idaho State pulled Aguinaga after four innings, changing the lefty ace for righty Lizzy Tommasini. Kirk led off the fifth with a single and later scored on an Abby Grundy single to left to make it 4-2.
After McCraw’s four-pitch frame in the top of the sixth, Jordan McMahon and Riley Whalen each singled to start the bottom of the sixth. But two quick outs meant the Wildcats hadn’t yet used the opportunity for an insurance run.
Enter Kirk, who ripped Weber State’s 13th hit up the middle to score Whalen for the final 5-2 margin.
McCraw kept the ball in the seventh with Jayci Finch, winner of Thursday morning’s comeback over Sacramento State, warming in the bullpen. Despite battling back from down 3-0, McCraw walked pinch hitter Kate Hogan to lead off the final inning.
No matter for Kirk and company; after a visit to the circle from pitching coach Addie Jensen — she the only winning pitcher in Big Sky history at an NCAA Tournament — McCraw induced one of her eight groundouts. It went to Kirk, of course, who smoothly tossed underhanded to Taegan Smith at second base to start a 4-6-3 double play.
ISU outfielder Gracie Smith popped out to catcher Eva Richardson behind home plate to end the game on the next pitch and Weber State players shouted, slammed gloves to the dirt and celebrated their upset victory.
The Wildcats get Friday off while three teams play out the one-loss elimination side of the bracket. First, No. 2 Sacramento State (27-22) faces No. 4 Northern Colorado (18-29) at noon Friday. The winner then faces Idaho State to decide who advances to championship Saturday.
Saturday’s title game is scheduled for noon, WSU’s first championship round appearance since 2022. Should WSU lose, the if-necessary rematch follows. All games stream on ESPN+.
