PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Shi Smith of Seattle University softball pitched her first career no-hitter, setting a school record with 15 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over UC Davis Friday. The Redhawks also dropped a 6-4 decision to Notre Dame on their first day of action at the 2020 Mary Nutter Classic.
In the win over UC Davis, Smith was awesome while tossing the eighth no-hitter in program history. The junior struck out the side twice and tallied two strikeouts in four other frames. Smith hit two batters in the contest, allowing no other baserunners on the day. She earned four flyouts and two groundouts in the gem.
Smith joins Jennifer Hewitt, Erin Martin (two career no-hitters), Kelsey Reynolds (two), Alyssa Reuble, and Andie Larkins as Redhawks to throw no-hitters. Smith is the first pitcher in school history to pitch a seven-inning no-no.
On Friday, Smith also broke her program record with 15 strikeouts. She struck out 13 hitters against Northwestern in the season opener on Feb. 7.
In the bottom of the first, Smith struck out the side. She sat down two Aggies via strikeout in the second and another in the third. Olivia Viggiano singled to lead off the fourth for SU, and after two outs, Bailey Thompson homered to left for a 2-0 lead.
Smith hit a batter in the fourth, but recorded strikeouts for each of the three outs. She claimed a pair of strikeouts in both the fifth and sixth frame, putting her three outs away from a no-hitter. A pinch-hit RBI single by Grace Dudden brought in an insurance run in the seventh.
Smith got a swinging strikeout to start the seventh. She followed with a looking K to set up the final out. Smith earned a flyout to right, clinching her first no-hitter.
Against Notre Dame, the Redhawks fell behind, 2-0, after an inning. The Irish scored again in the third, but SU rallied in the top of the fourth. Carley Nance led off with a solo home run. A pair of errors put Redhawks aboard and Dudden singled to drive in another run. With Lily Garcia at third and Olivia Viggiano at first, SU put the runners in motion. Viggiano took off for second and drew a throw and Garcia scampered home with the tying run.
Notre Dame went back ahead with a single run in the fourth and the fifth. SU looked to rally in the sixth, as Mekenzie Madokoro walked to lead off the inning. Alyson Matriotti followed with a single and then Viggiano reached on an error to load the bases with one out. A Cherise Silvan sacrifice fly brought in a run to make it 6-4, but the Redhawks couldn't find another hit to get closer.
Nance singled in the seventh, but the Irish held on to close out the contest.
Nance went 2-3 with a home run and a walk, while throwing 4.2 innings. Madokoro tripled and walked in the game.
Seattle U will take on third-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
In the win over UC Davis, Smith was awesome while tossing the eighth no-hitter in program history. The junior struck out the side twice and tallied two strikeouts in four other frames. Smith hit two batters in the contest, allowing no other baserunners on the day. She earned four flyouts and two groundouts in the gem.
Smith joins Jennifer Hewitt, Erin Martin (two career no-hitters), Kelsey Reynolds (two), Alyssa Reuble, and Andie Larkins as Redhawks to throw no-hitters. Smith is the first pitcher in school history to pitch a seven-inning no-no.
On Friday, Smith also broke her program record with 15 strikeouts. She struck out 13 hitters against Northwestern in the season opener on Feb. 7.
In the bottom of the first, Smith struck out the side. She sat down two Aggies via strikeout in the second and another in the third. Olivia Viggiano singled to lead off the fourth for SU, and after two outs, Bailey Thompson homered to left for a 2-0 lead.
Smith hit a batter in the fourth, but recorded strikeouts for each of the three outs. She claimed a pair of strikeouts in both the fifth and sixth frame, putting her three outs away from a no-hitter. A pinch-hit RBI single by Grace Dudden brought in an insurance run in the seventh.
Smith got a swinging strikeout to start the seventh. She followed with a looking K to set up the final out. Smith earned a flyout to right, clinching her first no-hitter.
Against Notre Dame, the Redhawks fell behind, 2-0, after an inning. The Irish scored again in the third, but SU rallied in the top of the fourth. Carley Nance led off with a solo home run. A pair of errors put Redhawks aboard and Dudden singled to drive in another run. With Lily Garcia at third and Olivia Viggiano at first, SU put the runners in motion. Viggiano took off for second and drew a throw and Garcia scampered home with the tying run.
Notre Dame went back ahead with a single run in the fourth and the fifth. SU looked to rally in the sixth, as Mekenzie Madokoro walked to lead off the inning. Alyson Matriotti followed with a single and then Viggiano reached on an error to load the bases with one out. A Cherise Silvan sacrifice fly brought in a run to make it 6-4, but the Redhawks couldn't find another hit to get closer.
Nance singled in the seventh, but the Irish held on to close out the contest.
Nance went 2-3 with a home run and a walk, while throwing 4.2 innings. Madokoro tripled and walked in the game.
Seattle U will take on third-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.