Big Sky standings

OGDEN, Utah — Weber State combined for 19 runs and 25 hits over two games on the way to a sweep of Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference softball doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Wildcat Softball Complex. Weber State won the first game, 11-3, in five innings and the nightcap, 8-0, in six innings in games that were decided in mercy rule fashion.

It a matchup of the top two teams in the Big Sky, Weber State (32-15, 13-3) overtook the Hornets (23-19, 12-5) for first place in the league standings. Sacramento State entered the day with a half game lead on the Wildcats, but now find themselves 1.5 games back. These same two teams will play the finale of their three-game set tomorrow at 11 a.m. PDT.

The winner of the Big Sky's regular season title will host the conference tournament May 12-14. With just four games left in the regular season, Sacramento State finds itself in a must-win situation tomorrow if the team wants to have a chance at winning the regular season title. Should the Hornets lose tomorrow, they would need to sweep all three home games against Portland State next weekend, and see Weber State drop all three games at Montana to win the regular season.

The Hornets' pitching staff entered the game with a very respectable 3.28 ERA, but Weber State hit a combined .481 today. That included 25 hits, six walks, three doubles, two home runs, 19 RBIs and a .534 on-base percentage. Weber State scored multiple runs in six different innings today, including a four-run first in the opener and a four-run fourth in the nightcap which broke a scoreless tie.

The Wildcats' Sara Hingsberger had a monster day, going 5-for-7 with two home runs, eight RBIs, 11 total bases and a 1.571 slugging percentage. Four Weber State regulars hit at least .600 in the doubleheader, including Aubrey Whitmer who went 5-for-7 with three RBIs.

Sacramento State starter Celina Matthias, the owner of 17 wins this season, had allowed one run or less in seven of her last eight appearances, but was replaced in the third inning of the opener. Matthias entered the day with a 2.74 ERA, but saw that number drop to 3.05 after today's games. Savanna Corr (4.0 ip), Kaitlyn Yerby (1.0 ip) and Taylor Tessier (1.0 ip) also pitched today.

A bright spot for Sacramento State continued to be the hot bat of senior catcher Kortney Solis, who had multiple-hit games in both contests and finished 4-for-5 with a hit-by-pitch. She improved her hitting streak to a career-high nine games. During that nine-game streak, she is batting .609 (14-for-23) with a .783 slugging percentage and .643 on-base percentage. That has lifted her season batting average up to .316, including a monstrous .488 average against Big Sky opposition.

Sasha Margulies also hit safely in both games, and she is now batting .403 this season. In addition, Margulies (19) and Solis (18) continue to improve upon lengthy consecutive games streak of reaching base safely.

Natalie Alas (1), Kailey Olcott (1) and Jessica Ravetti (1) combined for the Hornets' three RBIs during the day.

For Weber State, Kirtlyn Bohling (17-6) got the win in the opener, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits over five innings. In the nightcap, Baylee Reeves (4.0 ip) and Bailey Seek (2.0 ip) combined on a five-hit shutout. It marked the first time in 11 games that Sacramento State's offense has been held without a run.

Matthias (17-11) took the loss in the first game, and Savanna Corr (3-3) got the loss in the second game.