The third inning brought a thrilling, shutout-saving moment for the Wildcats. Holding a 1-0 lead with one out in the bottom half, Merrill faced trouble after Utah first baseman Kaylah Nelsen reached on an error and Shonty Passi drew a walk.

Designated hitter Emily Capobianco drove a ball to the centerfield wall, sending Jordan McMahon sprinting to the track. The ball hung in the air just long enough to make Nelsen pause at second and McMahon, a freshman, fired in the start of a relay that nailed Nelsen at the plate.

Passi was hot on Nelsen’s heels and soon discovered she’d hung herself out to dry. WSU catcher Jordan Hart quickly recovered from the play at the plate and chased Passi down the third-base line, ultimately lunging to tag her out before she reached third and ending the inning.

That was the last time Utah (12-31), losers of eight straight, got a runner past second base.

Taegan Smith led Weber State (19-26) at the plate batting 1 for 2 with two walks and two RBIs. Kiaira Smith hit 2 for 4 as WSU’s lone multi-hit batter of the game.

Kiaira Smith got Weber on the board with an RBI double to score Taegan Smith in the top of the first. Abby Grundy scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning.

Riley Whalen scored on a passed ball in the sixth, then Taegan Smith followed with a two-run single for a 5-0 lead.

Eva Richardson singled with the bases loaded in the seventh to score Sienna Solis and reach the final tally.

With one out, Weber State left the bases loaded there but it wouldn’t matter. Jayci Finch finished her two-inning close by allowing two singles in the seventh but inducing a flyout and a fielder’s choice groundout to end the game.

RJ Parra threw one inning in a start for WSU, drawing two quick outs before pitching around a double and leaving a runner on third with a Capobianco groundout.

Merrill took over in the second, allowing two hits and striking out one over 3 2/3 innings. Joslynn Veltien faced one batter, drawing a groundout to record the final out of the fifth inning and making way for Finch.

The Wildcats are now 6-1 against Utah (2-0), Utah State (2-1) and Utah Valley (2-0) this season.

Weber State next travels to Sacramento State for a Friday-Saturday series of three Big Sky Conference games to likely determine who holds second place heading into the final week of conference play.