Weber State notebook: Softball beats Utah Valley 4-2 to take season series
Winston Reid re-signs with Cleveland Browns
Greg Merrill, for WSU Athletics
Weber State's Olivia Birkinshaw rounds the bases against Colorado State during a series March 8-9 in Fort Collins, Colo.Weber State softball won its sixth straight game Tuesday with a 4-2 home victory over visiting Utah Valley.
Weber High alum Brooke Merrill picked up her second win in the circle, allowing two earned runs on six hits over six innings. Clearfield High alum Jayci Finch threw a 1-2-3 seventh to close the victory. The two combined for the win and the save without striking out any batters.
Weber State (18-23) took a 2-0 lead in the third when Olivia Birkinshaw singled in Taegan Smith and Abby Grundy scored on a Mariyah Delgado groundout.
That lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth when Smith roped a triple to score Jordan McMahon.
Utah Valley (12-24) finally got to Merrill in the sixth, putting aboard leadoff hitters with a single and a walk. That set up Victoria Vasquez’s RBI groundout and Clearfield High alum Rachael Brown hitting an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Emma Bingham got one back for WSU in the bottom half — an insurance run Finch wouldn’t need — with a double to score McMahon after McMahon led off the frame with a walk.
The win gives the Wildcats series victories over two in-state foes; after topping Utah State 2-1 over three games this season, WSU finishes 2-0 against UVU, adding to a 5-3 road win from March 17.
WSU currently holds a 1-0 series lead over Utah and plays one more against the Utes on Tuesday, April 15. The Wildcats trail Utah Tech 0-1 and host the Trailblazers for a May 3 doubleheader to end the regular season.
The Wildcats next resume Big Sky Conference play by hosting Idaho State for two games Friday and one more Saturday. Both teams are 5-1 in league play and tied for first place.
REID RETURNS TO BROWNS
Former Weber State linebacker Winston Reid will return to the Cleveland Browns for a second season after the club signed him as a rookie free agent last year.
The Browns announced Tuesday that Reid has signed his exclusive free agent offer with the team. Spotrac reports the one-year contract is for $960,000, up from $795,000 in 2024.
Reid appeared in 16 games during the 2024 season, totaling 23 tackles with one for loss, including a half-sack, recovered one fumble, and blocked at fullback for one offensive touchdown run.
The Browns went 3-14 last season. Cleveland’s linebacker unit is led by Jordan Hicks and also includes former Utah player Mo Diabate.
