SEATTLE – (March 30) Seattle University softball swept a doubleheader from Utah Valley in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opener Friday. The Redhawks scored seven times in the fifth inning on their way to a 9-3 win in the first contest and then Andie Larkins pitched a complete-game shutout to lift SU to a 5-0 victory in the nightcap at Logan Field.
“We had two great team wins today,” said Coach Geoff Hirai. “We executed in all three facets of the game.”
UVU (8-18, 0-2 WAC) rallied to take a 3-2 edge in the fifth inning of the first game, but Seattle U (24-15, 2-0 WAC) had an answer ready in its half of the frame. Ally Choate singled to start the action. Madison Cathcart got aboard on a fielder’s choice, as a UVU error allowed Choate to get to second safely. Maddy Kristjanson successfully sacrificed to advance the runners and the visitors brought on 2017 WAC Pitcher of the Year Lauren Frailey Spendlove to try to quell the rally. Kaylee Ree greeted her by lining a single to left centerfield to drive in two runs for a 4-3 lead.
Bailey Thompson followed with a walk. Savannah Loomis pinch-hit and came through with an RBI double to left center, putting Redhawks at second and third with one out and chasing Frailey Spendlove from the game. Susanne Morris and Molly Campbell both walked, bringing in another run. With two outs, Choate came back to the plate and blasted a double over the left fielder’s head, clearing the bases and making it 9-3. It marked SU’s second straight game with a seven-run fifth inning, as it tallied seven in a 15-3 win at UC Santa Barbara on Monday.
Shianne Smith, pitching in relief, put a runner on both the sixth and seventh, but suffered no damage on her way to her sixth win of the season.
Carley Nance started well in the first game, allowing a single baserunner in each of the first two innings. SU got on the board in the bottom of the second, taking a 1-0 lead. Ree was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Morris reached on a fielder’s choice and a Wolverine error allowed Ree to get to second with two outs. Alyson Matriotti made UVU pay, singling through the left side to drive in Ree.
Nance threw a 1-2-3 third and then SU added a run in the bottom of the frame. Choate singled on the infield and then Cathcart hit a single through the right side. A Kristjanson sac bunt moved the runners up and Ree drove in Choate with a groundout to second, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead. Utah Valley came back a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take the lead before the Redhawks’s explosion.
Choate went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Ree put up a hit, three RBIs, and two runs, while Matriotti added two hits, an RBI, and a run.
Smith tossed 2.1 scoreless innings for the win, while Nance struck out seven over 4.2 innings.
Larkins was terrific in the second game, blanking the Wolverines over seven frames. In the fifth, UVU put runners on second and third with no one out. Larkins battled, earning a groundball to third for the first out. She then induced a flyout to left, keeping the runners at bay. Larkins escaped with a swinging strikeout of Caragh Morris, extinguishing the visitors’ hopes.
Matriotti got SU out of the box, tripling in the bottom of the first. Choate then walked and stole second. With out one down, Kristjanson hit a single up the middle, plating a pair of runs.
Still holding a 2-0 margin in the sixth, the Redhawks looked to extend their lead. Again, it was Choate playing a key role, as the freshman singled to left field. Cathcart single to right center and Choate sprinted ahead for third, beating the throw and allowing a hustling Cathcart to reach second with no one out. Ree then tripled to left centerfield, driving in two runs for a 4-0 difference. A Cherise Silvan double brought in Ree for another score.
Larkins got a groundout to start the top of the seventh. After a walk, Larkins forced a liner to Cathcart at first, who caught the shot and touched first base to double off the runner and end the game.
Larkins pitched all seven frames, striking out three. Six different Redhawks had a hit in the contest.
The teams wrap up a three-game series tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Logan Field.