PORTLAND STATE BOX | BRYANT BOX
SEATTLE – (March 16) Seattle University softball recorded a pair of shutout wins on the first day of the Seattle U Invitational, blanking Portland State, 2-0, and Bryant, 7-0, at Logan Field Friday. Andie Larkins and Carley Nance threw 13 innings of zeroes to lift the Redhawks to a 4-0 home start in 2018.
“Andie and Carley both had great outings,” said Coach Geoff Hirai. “We played really good defense today. We need to do a better job of hitting with runners in scoring position, and we’ll work on that tomorrow."
Larkins tossed a complete-game shutout of PSU to start the Redhawks’ day. The junior allowed five hits and struck out four batters.
SU (16-12) scratched out two runs to make Larkins’ effort stand. Savannah Loomis and Cherise Silvan both singled in the bottom of the second and then a Susanne Morris groundball and Viking error brought the game’s first run.
As Larkins cruised, the Redhawks added an insurance run in the fourth. Silvan led off with a walk and advanced on a pair of groundouts. An Alyson Matriotti base hit to center plated Silvan for a 2-0 margin.
Ally Choate and Madison Cathcart both had two hits to spark the offense.
In the final game of the day, Nance led the Redhawks with a standout effort. She hurled six shutout innings, giving up just two hits. Natalie Montgomery closed out the game with a scoreless seventh frame.
Seattle U struck quickly to gain control. Nicole Bolasky opened the bottom of the first with a single. A Choate base hit put two on. Kaylee Ree then singled to load the bases with one out. After another out, a wild pitch allowed Bolasky to sprint home for a 1-0 edge.
In the second, Silvan walked. Bailey Thompson was hit by a pitch and Matriotti singled with a bunt, loading the bases for the second straight inning. A Bolasky fielder’s choice brought in a run, but Bryant kept SU from tacking on more until the fourth.
Thompson started the fourth with a single to left. Walks by Matriotti and Bolasky loaded the bases again with no one out. A Bulldog error allowed a run to score for a 3-0 advantage. Cathcart came to the plate with the bases still full of Redhawks. The nation’s leading home run hitter hammered a towering drive over the right-field fence, marking her second grand slam at Logan Field this year.
The sophomore has hit 15 homers in 28 games, good for most in Division I this year.
Three games are set for tomorrow, as PSU and Bryant face off at noon, SU takes on Bryant and 2:30 p.m. and the Redhawks play Portland State at 5 p.m.