EUGENE, Ore. – Seattle University softball beat Loyola Marymount, 12-4 in five innings, and then pushed No. 11 Oregon in a 3-2 extra-inning loss on Sunday at the Oregon Tournament.
The Redhawks rolled to a shortened win over LMU on Sunday morning. Shi Smith pitched two shutout innings to bring SU to bat in the bottom of the second. With one out, Grace Dudden drew a walk to start a string of 10 straight Redhawks to reach base in the frame. Taylor Deden, making her first start at third base, singled off the pitcher. Alyson Matriotti then reached on an error, as the throw got away from the Lion defense and allowed Dudden to score. Olivia Viggiano singled up the middle to plate another run and then Ally Choate was hit by a pitch.
Mekenzie Madokoro followed with a two-run single to right, making it 4-0. Madison Cathcart's base hit to left brought in Choate and forced an LMU pitching change. Bailey Thompson was hit by the new pitcher, loading the bases. Stephanie Merwin reached on a fielder's choice, keeping the bases loaded with two outs. Dudden then jumped on the first pitch of her at-bat, lining a shot over the fence in left centerfield for a grand slam.
SU's nine runs in the frame marked the most scored by a Redhawk team in an inning since Feb. 15, 2019, when it put up nine runs in the third inning against Georgetown in a 13-3 victory.
LMU answered with a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, SU looked to close out the contest early with three runs. Dudden walked to lead off the rally and then DeDen singled and an error allowed a run to score. Matriotti got aboard via error, and with one out, Choate hit an RBI groundout. A Madokoro single plated Matriotti to end the game.
Madokoro posted two hits and three RBIs, while DeDen went 2-3 with two runs. Dudden hit a grand slam and walked twice. Smith pitched all five innings and struck out six in her fifth win of the season.
Stefanie Madrigal got the start against the Ducks and pitched admirably, containing the powerful Oregon offense to two runs across six innings. SU grabbed an early 2-0 lead before UO evened the game in the fourth.
In the top of the second inning, Thompson walked and then Merwin singled to left. With one out, Cherise Silvan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. DeDen lofted a flyball to right, driving in Merwin for the first run of the contest.
The Redhawks added a run in the third, as Choate singled to lead off the frame. Madokoro reached on a fielder's choice and then Cathcart doubled down the rightfield line. Thompson came through with a deep flyout to left, allowing Madokoro to come in for a 2-0 advantage.
The hosts scored a single run in the third and fourth to even the score, but Madrigal held down the Ducks with strong work in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, forcing extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Cathcart drew a walk and SU got runners to second and third, but Oregon escaped with no further damage. The Ducks then hit a sacrifice fly to win it in their half of the eighth.
Madrigal threw 7.2 innings and held the Ducks to five hits and one earned run. Choate and Merwin had two hits apiece.
The Redhawks host their home opener on Thursday, as Utah visits Logan Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
The Redhawks rolled to a shortened win over LMU on Sunday morning. Shi Smith pitched two shutout innings to bring SU to bat in the bottom of the second. With one out, Grace Dudden drew a walk to start a string of 10 straight Redhawks to reach base in the frame. Taylor Deden, making her first start at third base, singled off the pitcher. Alyson Matriotti then reached on an error, as the throw got away from the Lion defense and allowed Dudden to score. Olivia Viggiano singled up the middle to plate another run and then Ally Choate was hit by a pitch.
Mekenzie Madokoro followed with a two-run single to right, making it 4-0. Madison Cathcart's base hit to left brought in Choate and forced an LMU pitching change. Bailey Thompson was hit by the new pitcher, loading the bases. Stephanie Merwin reached on a fielder's choice, keeping the bases loaded with two outs. Dudden then jumped on the first pitch of her at-bat, lining a shot over the fence in left centerfield for a grand slam.
SU's nine runs in the frame marked the most scored by a Redhawk team in an inning since Feb. 15, 2019, when it put up nine runs in the third inning against Georgetown in a 13-3 victory.
LMU answered with a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, SU looked to close out the contest early with three runs. Dudden walked to lead off the rally and then DeDen singled and an error allowed a run to score. Matriotti got aboard via error, and with one out, Choate hit an RBI groundout. A Madokoro single plated Matriotti to end the game.
Madokoro posted two hits and three RBIs, while DeDen went 2-3 with two runs. Dudden hit a grand slam and walked twice. Smith pitched all five innings and struck out six in her fifth win of the season.
Stefanie Madrigal got the start against the Ducks and pitched admirably, containing the powerful Oregon offense to two runs across six innings. SU grabbed an early 2-0 lead before UO evened the game in the fourth.
In the top of the second inning, Thompson walked and then Merwin singled to left. With one out, Cherise Silvan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. DeDen lofted a flyball to right, driving in Merwin for the first run of the contest.
The Redhawks added a run in the third, as Choate singled to lead off the frame. Madokoro reached on a fielder's choice and then Cathcart doubled down the rightfield line. Thompson came through with a deep flyout to left, allowing Madokoro to come in for a 2-0 advantage.
The hosts scored a single run in the third and fourth to even the score, but Madrigal held down the Ducks with strong work in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, forcing extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Cathcart drew a walk and SU got runners to second and third, but Oregon escaped with no further damage. The Ducks then hit a sacrifice fly to win it in their half of the eighth.
Madrigal threw 7.2 innings and held the Ducks to five hits and one earned run. Choate and Merwin had two hits apiece.
The Redhawks host their home opener on Thursday, as Utah visits Logan Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.