Softball's streak snapped with Weber State split

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OGDEN, Utah -- It took extra innings Saturday, but Weber State finally found a way put an end to Northern Colorado's impressive softball winning streak.

The Bears won the first game 7-6 at Wildcat Softball Field to run their streak to eight games -- that's their longest such stretch since beginning play at the NCAA Division I level -- but then saw their momentum halted with a 3-2 nine-inning loss in game two.

Regardless, Northern Colorado (11-29) improved to 7-1 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play on the weekend and stayed in first place in the Mountain Division heading into a key road series next weekend at second-place Utah Valley (11-20, 4-2).

Northern Colorado, the designated home team in both games, led 7-2 after five innings in the first game Saturday and then held on after Weber State (9-27, 2-6) rallied with two runs in the sixth and seventh.

Kelli Henderson (9-13) pitched all seven innings in the first game to win her ninth game this season before losing in relief in game two.

Jamie Juelfs got the starting nod in the second game and turned in a strong performance, with just one run allowed on six hits in four innings. Megan Wilkinson was the first out of the Bears' pen, and she kept the Wildcats off the board with just one hit allowed in her two innings.

Henderson got the call in the seventh with the Bears ahead 2-1, but she dropped to 1-2 this season when pitching in relief.

The Bears tallied 18 hits Saturday, including two doubles, a triple and a home run.

Melanie Buol led the way with a 3-for-5 day, while Kailee Vessey added four hits in seven at-bats. Freshman Megan Wilkinson and Kelli Henderson matched Buol with three hits, and one of Wilkinson's hits was her fourth home run of the season, which only trails Vessey, a senior.