UTAH STATE BOX | HAWAI'I BOX | PHOTO GALLERY
LAS VEGAS- (Feb. 16) Seattle University softball won twice on the first day of the Marucci Desert Classic Friday. The Redhawks beat Utah State, 9-5, and followed with a 4-2 win over Hawai’i, improving to 5-2 in 2018.
“This team does not quit,” said Coach Geoff Hirai. “It’s a fun team to coach. We’ve got two tough games tomorrow and we’ll keep working.”
Utah State jumped out to a 3-0 advantage going into the bottom of the third inning. Nicole Bolasky singled to lead off and Ally Choate followed with another infield single. Kaylee Ree’s RBI single got SU on the board. After an out, Susanne Morris drilled a three-run home run to left field, giving the Redhawks a 4-3 lead.
Maddy Kristjanson kept the rally going with a base hit and then advanced to second on an error. With two outs, Savannah Loomis drew a walk. Molly Campbell came through with a pinch-hit single to plate Kristjanson as Seattle U grabbed a 5-3 margin.
Carley Nance gave up a pair of walks in the fourth, but she got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout to keep SU ahead. Choate got the offense going again in the bottom of the frame, singling to third base. Ree hit a fielder’s choice, but an Aggie error put runners at first and second with no outs. A two-out double by Kristjanson brought in Choate for a 6-3 difference.
In the top of the fifth, Utah State put two on with one out. Nance picked up a key out on a comebacker and then Andie Larkins came on in relief. After a walk to load the bases, Larkins forced a foul out to Kristjanson to end the inning.
A Loomis base hit sparked the Redhawks in the fifth. Alyson Matriotti got aboard via fielder’s choice and a Utah State miscue allowed Silvan, running for Loomis, to came around to score. Bolasky then singled and followed with a steal. Choate drove in Matriotti with a single and then the freshman stole second, forcing another Aggie error that plated Bolasky for a 9-3 lead.
USU opened the sixth with a pair of runs, and after another hit, Shianne Smith relieved Larkins in the circle. Smith claimed two flyouts and a swinging strikeout to escape the frame. Smith tallied a groundout and two more strikeouts in the seventh as SU picked up the victory.
Choate went 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Bolasky posted two hits and two runs, while Kristjanson added two hits, a run, and an RBI. Morris homered and walked. Nance collected the win, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up six hits and three runs. Smith retired six in a row to close the game.
Shortly after the conclusion of that game, SU took the field to play the Rainbows. Hawai’i went ahead, 2-0, in the first, but the Redhawks were ready to battle back again. Madison Cathcart doubled to start the top of the second. Loomis singled, putting runners at the corners. With two outs, Bailey Thompson found a hole in left field, singling in Cathcart to put the Redhawks on the board.
Larkins put up zeroes for the next two frames, logging a 6-4-3 double play to close the third. In the bottom of the fourth, Cathcart got the ball rolling again, hitting an infield single. Loomis supplied a base hit. With two outs, Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the tying run. Thompson came up big again, placing an RBI single to put Seattle U in the lead.
Larkins tossed a scoreless fourth before giving way to Nance. The redshirt freshman collected three groundball outs in the fifth. Nance recorded a strikeout and two groundouts in the sixth, and after a Ree sac fly gave SU insurance, Nance close the contest with her third 1-2-3 inning of the game.
Thompson, Cathcart, and Loomis each had two hits, as Thompson drove in a pair of runs. Larkins notched her first win of the season, going four innings and allowing just one earned run. Nance got the save by throwing three perfect frames.
Seattle U will take on San Jose State and Nevada on Saturday at the Marucci Desert Classic.