STANFORD, Calif. – Seattle University softball split a doubleheader at Stanford Thursday, taking a 5-4 win before falling, 3-1 in 10 innings, to close the day.
In the first game, Stefanie Madrigal was solid in her first career start. The freshman pitched a 1-2-3 first and then worked around a pair of baserunners in the second to get through the second scoreless.
The SU offense broke out in the third, as Olivia Viggiano reached on an error and then stole second base. A Cherise Silvan double brought in Viggiano for a 1-0 lead. Madison Cathcart followed with a walk and then with two outs, the Redhawks strung together a rally to take further control of the contest.
Carley Nance singled to right center to bring in Silvan. Stephanie Merwin then hit an RBI single on a 1-1 count, making it 3-0. Mekenzie Madokoro then worked to a full count before lashing a double to left center to score Nance. Lily Garcia singled through the left side to make it 5-0, as Merwin came around to score.
Madrigal earned a groundout and a flyout in the bottom of the third, but Stanford eventually scratched out a run to get on the board. In the fourth, the Cardinal loaded the bases and SU went to Shi Smith in relief. After one run scored, Smith got a flyball to left to end the frame at 5-2.
The hosts added two more runs in the fifth, but Nance entered the game with two outs and quickly tallied a strikeout to shut down any further damage.
Nance claimed two more Ks in the sixth and then capped a perfect frame with a 1-3 groundout. She came back for the seventh and posted a swinging strikeout, a looking strikeout and then a lineout to Cathcart, closing the game for the Redhawks' first win of the year.
Nance went 2-3 with a hit by pitch, while Silvan pounded two doubles. Nance earned the save with 2.1 perfect innings, striking out five hitters.
In the nightcap, Nance was terrific again, containing the Cardinal throughout the contest. She allowed a single unearned run in the second inning, but kept Stanford off the board otherwise.
SU's bats were largely quiet until late in the game. Viggiano singled in the sixth, and Cathcart walked to put two on, but Stanford got the third out to keep the one-run margin.
In the seventh, Merwin singled to center. Brooke Milder pinch-hit and laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Merwin to second base. Bailey Thompson came up as a pinch-hitter and smacked a double down the right field line to plate Merwin, tying the contest at 1. With two outs, Alyson Matriotti singled, but Stanford cut down the go-ahead run at home plate to keep the score even.
Nance continued to excel, striking out two Cardinal in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings. Stanford doubled to lead off the eighth and then stole third with no one out. Nance buckled down, notching two foul outs and then a swinging strikeout to escape the inning.
After a scoreless ninth, Stanford singled and homered to win the game in the 10th frame.
Nance threw a complete game, striking out eight batters and allowing just seven hits. Matriotti went 2-3 with a walk.
SU heads to the Libby Matson Tournament for three games this weekend. It will play CSUN and Pacific tomorrow and then take on Nevada on Saturday.
In the first game, Stefanie Madrigal was solid in her first career start. The freshman pitched a 1-2-3 first and then worked around a pair of baserunners in the second to get through the second scoreless.
The SU offense broke out in the third, as Olivia Viggiano reached on an error and then stole second base. A Cherise Silvan double brought in Viggiano for a 1-0 lead. Madison Cathcart followed with a walk and then with two outs, the Redhawks strung together a rally to take further control of the contest.
Carley Nance singled to right center to bring in Silvan. Stephanie Merwin then hit an RBI single on a 1-1 count, making it 3-0. Mekenzie Madokoro then worked to a full count before lashing a double to left center to score Nance. Lily Garcia singled through the left side to make it 5-0, as Merwin came around to score.
Madrigal earned a groundout and a flyout in the bottom of the third, but Stanford eventually scratched out a run to get on the board. In the fourth, the Cardinal loaded the bases and SU went to Shi Smith in relief. After one run scored, Smith got a flyball to left to end the frame at 5-2.
The hosts added two more runs in the fifth, but Nance entered the game with two outs and quickly tallied a strikeout to shut down any further damage.
Nance claimed two more Ks in the sixth and then capped a perfect frame with a 1-3 groundout. She came back for the seventh and posted a swinging strikeout, a looking strikeout and then a lineout to Cathcart, closing the game for the Redhawks' first win of the year.
Nance went 2-3 with a hit by pitch, while Silvan pounded two doubles. Nance earned the save with 2.1 perfect innings, striking out five hitters.
In the nightcap, Nance was terrific again, containing the Cardinal throughout the contest. She allowed a single unearned run in the second inning, but kept Stanford off the board otherwise.
SU's bats were largely quiet until late in the game. Viggiano singled in the sixth, and Cathcart walked to put two on, but Stanford got the third out to keep the one-run margin.
In the seventh, Merwin singled to center. Brooke Milder pinch-hit and laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Merwin to second base. Bailey Thompson came up as a pinch-hitter and smacked a double down the right field line to plate Merwin, tying the contest at 1. With two outs, Alyson Matriotti singled, but Stanford cut down the go-ahead run at home plate to keep the score even.
Nance continued to excel, striking out two Cardinal in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings. Stanford doubled to lead off the eighth and then stole third with no one out. Nance buckled down, notching two foul outs and then a swinging strikeout to escape the inning.
After a scoreless ninth, Stanford singled and homered to win the game in the 10th frame.
Nance threw a complete game, striking out eight batters and allowing just seven hits. Matriotti went 2-3 with a walk.
SU heads to the Libby Matson Tournament for three games this weekend. It will play CSUN and Pacific tomorrow and then take on Nevada on Saturday.