BRYANT BOX | PORTLAND STATE BOX
SEATTLE – (March 18) Seattle University softball won twice on the final day of the Seattle U Invitational. The Redhawks beat Bryant, 5-4, and then rallied to beat Portland State, 5-1, on Sunday at Logan Field.
In the morning meeting, Bryant scored to tie it at 4 in the top of the sixth, but the Redhawks had a rally ready in their half of the inning. With one out, Bailey Thompson doubled to right centerfield. Alyson Matriotti was hit by a pitch to put two on. Ally Choate followed with a single to right, as Thompson galloped in for the go-ahead run.
In the seventh, Bryant singled with one out. Andie Larkins then snared a line drive back to the circle and tossed to first base to double off the runner and end the contest.
Madison Cathcart went 3-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Thompson had a three-hit game, doubling twice. Choate added two hits and a run. Larkins pitched five innings in relief, getting the win. She gave up three hits and one run, striking out four batters.
Seattle U struck quickly to start scoring in the first. Matriotti singled to center to lead off. Choate then singled to left and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Cathcart hit a two-run single to left to give SU a 2-0 lead.
The visitors took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the top of the second. In the bottom of the third, Cathcart led off the frame with a towering blast to center, marking her nation-leading 16th home run of the season.
Cherise Silvan began the fourth with a base hit and then Thompson drove her in with a double for a 4-3 lead. The Bulldogs tied the game in the sixth, though, setting up Choate’s hit.
The Redhawks swept all three games with Bryant this weekend.
SU and PSU split games on Friday and Saturday, setting up Sunday’s rubber match at Logan Field. The Vikings scored first, plating a run in the top of the third.
Seattle U remained down 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth, when the Redhawk bats came alive. Maddy Kristjanson hit a single to start the rally. A Nicole Bolasky sacrifice bunt moved Kristjanson to second. Silvan doubled to right center to drive in Kristjanson and tie the game at 1. A Susanne Morris base hit up the middle brought in Silvan for the lead. PSU switched pitchers, but SU continued to break open the contest. With two outs, Molly Campbell drew a walk. Choate singled to right centerfield to plate another run and then Cathcart hit a deep flyball to center, doubling in a pair of runs for a 5-1 margin.
Carley Nance set down PSU in the seventh, notching her 10th win of the season.
Eight different Redhawks tallied a hit in the game, led by Silvan’s two knocks. Shianne Smith pitched 4.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits. She struck out five. Nance tossed 2.1 innings and gave up four hits and no runs.
Seattle U heads to Santa Barbara, Calif., for its final non-conference tournament of the season. It will play five times over three days from March 24-26.