SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (March 26) Seattle University softball split two games at UC Santa Barbara Monday. The Redhawks scored seven times in the sixth to break open what became an 15-3 win after the hosts claimed a 2-1 win earlier in the day at the Gaucho Classic II.
"Our bats finally woke up," said Coach Geoff Hirai. "It was good to close on a strong note today. Now, we start a brand new season."
The final game of the weekend was tied at 3 after five innings. SU (22-15) was ready to break out, though, swinging the contest in its favor. With one out, Alyson Matriotti singled on the infield. Nicole Bolasky reached on a fielder’s choice, as Matriotti moved to second on an error. An Ally Choate RBI single gave the Redhawks a 4-3 advantage and then Madison Cathcart doubled to right, plating two more runs. The onslaught continued with an Erika Rodgers walk. Maddy Kristjanson then lashed a double to right centerfield, making it 8-3. A Sara Dominguez double brought in Kristjanson and then Tayler Dawes hit another double to put Seattle U ahead, 10-3. Nine straight Redhawks reached base as SU took control of the contest.
Shianne Smith pitched around an error in the bottom of the sixth, bringing the Redhawks back to bat in the seventh. Choate walked and Cathcart drove her in with two-bagger down the rightfield line. With one out, Kristjanson doubled to score Cathcart and make it 12-3. With two on and two out, Kaylee Ree smashed a home run to right center, capping SU’s dominant close to the day.
Seattle U tallied 14 hits and seven walks. Kristjanson recorded a career-high four hits to go with four RBIs, three runs, and a walk. Cathcart put up two hits, three RBIs, three runs, and a walk, while Ree contributed a pair of hits, including the three-run homer. Smith pitched all seven frames, giving up just three hits and two earned runs. The freshman posted six strikeouts.
Seattle U struck first, as Cathcart drew a two-out walk and then came around on a Bailey Thompson double.
The home side took a 2-1 lead, but SU answered in the third. Kristjanson walked with one out and then advanced to second a groundout. Susanne Morris followed with a double to left, driving in Kristjanson to even the score.
UCSB regained the lead, but in the top of the fifth, the Redhawks rallied again. Thompson reached on catcher’s interference. Rodgers pinch-ran and stole second. She advanced to third on an error and then came in on a Kristjanson base hit, making it 3-all.
In the early game, Carley Nance put together a terrific outing in the circle. She put down the first nine hitters of the game and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. The Gauchos put two runners on in the fourth, but Nance responded by retiring 11 in a row to blank UCSB through six frames.
SU scored in the top of the first. Bolasky singled down the leftfield line to lead off the game. She then stole second. A Choate single led to a Gaucho error that brought in Bolasky for a 1-0 advantage.
The score remained there until UCSB came up with three hits in the bottom of the seventh, as the hosts sneaked away with a 2-1 decision.
Nance tossed 6.2 innings, giving up four hits and two runs. She struck out three and walked none. Entering the seventh, the Tahoma native had stretched her streak of not allowing an earned run to 30 innings.
The Redhawks open WAC play on Friday, as Utah Valley visits Logan Field for a three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday and then a single game Saturday.