EUGENE, Ore. – Seattle University softball dropped a pair of games Saturday, falling to Portland State, 5-3, and at No. 11 Oregon, 10-2 in five innings, at the Oregon Tournament.
In the first game of the day, Portland State struck for three first-inning runs to gain early control. SU put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second to get on the board. Stephanie Merwin singled and Cherise Silvan laid down a bunt single. Mekenzie Madokoro followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
The Viking scored a run in the third and fourth for a 5-1 advantage, but the Redhawks responded in the bottom of the fourth. Carley Nance singled to center and then Merwin lined a base hit to right. A Silvan walk loaded the bases for the pinch-hitting Grace Dudden. The sophomore drew a walk to plate a run. With one out, Olivia Viggiano walked as well, driving in another run. PSU escaped further damage, though, and held its 5-3 margin.
Stefanie Madrigal pitched in relief, retiring the last seven Vikings she faced to keep SU close. In the bottom of the seventh, Ally Choate and Madison Cathcart both walked with one out. A Bailey Thompson groundout advanced the runners, but Portland State got out of the jam to close the contest.
Merwin went 2-3 with two runs, while Silvan and Cathcart added a hit and a walk apiece. Madrigal threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit to go with three strikeouts.
Against the Ducks, Shi Smith allowed a home run in the first, but settled down and held Oregon without any more runs into the fourth inning. The hosts exploded in the fourth, though, scoring nine runs to break the contest open. SU refused to give up, though, as Madokoro singled and Viggiano was hit by a pitch. Ally Choate found the gap in the left center for a two-run triple to get the Redhawks on the board. Oregon ended the game in five, however.
The Redhawks will play two games tomorrow, facing Loyola Marymount (9:30 a.m.) and then Oregon (2:30 p.m.) in Eugene.
In the first game of the day, Portland State struck for three first-inning runs to gain early control. SU put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second to get on the board. Stephanie Merwin singled and Cherise Silvan laid down a bunt single. Mekenzie Madokoro followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
The Viking scored a run in the third and fourth for a 5-1 advantage, but the Redhawks responded in the bottom of the fourth. Carley Nance singled to center and then Merwin lined a base hit to right. A Silvan walk loaded the bases for the pinch-hitting Grace Dudden. The sophomore drew a walk to plate a run. With one out, Olivia Viggiano walked as well, driving in another run. PSU escaped further damage, though, and held its 5-3 margin.
Stefanie Madrigal pitched in relief, retiring the last seven Vikings she faced to keep SU close. In the bottom of the seventh, Ally Choate and Madison Cathcart both walked with one out. A Bailey Thompson groundout advanced the runners, but Portland State got out of the jam to close the contest.
Merwin went 2-3 with two runs, while Silvan and Cathcart added a hit and a walk apiece. Madrigal threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit to go with three strikeouts.
Against the Ducks, Shi Smith allowed a home run in the first, but settled down and held Oregon without any more runs into the fourth inning. The hosts exploded in the fourth, though, scoring nine runs to break the contest open. SU refused to give up, though, as Madokoro singled and Viggiano was hit by a pitch. Ally Choate found the gap in the left center for a two-run triple to get the Redhawks on the board. Oregon ended the game in five, however.
The Redhawks will play two games tomorrow, facing Loyola Marymount (9:30 a.m.) and then Oregon (2:30 p.m.) in Eugene.