LAS CRUCES, N.M. – (April 27) Seattle University softball won, 7-4, at New Mexico State Friday. Madison Cathcart homered and walked three times to lead the Redhawks to a key Western Athletic Conference (WAC) victory.
“This was a total team effort,” said Coach Geoff Hirai. “ We played good defense, got good pitching, and came through with some key hits. We’ve got to keep fighting tomorrow.”
The teams meet for a doubleheader to close WAC regular-season play tomorrow. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Pacific. Seattle U can win its first WAC title with one victory Saturday.
On Friday, Cathcart led the Redhawks to a crucial victory. The sophomore walked in her first plate appearance and then came up after an Ally Choate single in the top of the third. Cathcart smashed a 1-2 pitch over the rightfield fence for a 2-0 lead.
Carley Nance was terrific early, rolling through the Aggie lineup the first time through. The hosts rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, making it 2-all. The home side had a runner at third with one out, but Susanne Morris caught a pitch and then ran down an Aggie runner who had strayed too far off base, collecting a vital out to slow the threat.
SU broke the game open in the fifth, striking for four runs. An error and two walks loaded the bases for Kaylee Ree with one out. She hit a shot up the middle that deflected off the NMSU’s second baseman’s glove and nearly rolled to the centerfield wall. The triple cleared the bases as the Redhawks took a 5-2 advantage. Another Aggie error allowed Ree to score to extend the difference.
NM State looked to come back again in the bottom half of the frame, and it scored twice, but a well-executed relay from Erika Rodgers to Ree to Morris cut down a potential run at the plate to close the inning at 6-4.
Shianne Smith came on in relief for the sixth, keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard. Maddy Kristjanson singled to start the seventh, and then Rodgers reached on a fielder’s choice. Rodgers followed with a steal of second. The senior advanced to third on a Cherise Silvan flyout. Morris then came through with a two-out single to left, plating Rodgers for a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Smith worked around a hit and a walk to end the game.
Cathcart hit her 18th homer of the year and drew three walks. Choate went 2-3 with a walk and two runs, while Kristjanson and Nicole Bolasky each had two hits.
Nance posted her 14th win of the year, going five innings and giving up four runs. Smith threw two scoreless frames to close the day, tallying her third save of the season.