PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Seattle University softball beat No. 18 Missouri, 3-1, at the 2020 Mary Nutter Classic on Sunday. Bailey Thompson hit a three-run home run and Carley Nance and Shi Smith teamed up to lift SU to its second-ever win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
Against Missouri, SU got up early and locked up the Tigers' offense on its way to a big win on Sunday. After Nance pitched a 1-2-3 first, Olivia Viggiano singled to open the bottom of the frame. With one out, Madison Cathcart was hit by a pitch. Thompson went down in the count 1-2, but followed by hammering a high drive over the fence in left field for a 3-0 lead.
Nance pitched a hitless second before Missouri got on the board with a run in the third. The Tigers put two on to start the fourth, but Nance picked up a pop-out, a strikeout, and a lineout to Alyson Matriotti to extricate herself from the jam.
Mekenzie Madokoro singled and Grace Dudden doubled in the fourth, but the Redhawks couldn't find more runs. SU went to Smith in relief for the top of the fifth as the junior was tasked with earning a three-inning save. Missouri put two runners on in the fifth, but Smith claimed a strikeout and a pop-up to close the threat.
In the sixth, Smith struck out the side, going to a 2-2 count on all three batters before downing the Tigers with two called third strikes and then a swinging K to get the Redhawks three outs away.
Missouri was hit by a pitch to start the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate. Smith closed out the win with a flyout, a strikeout, and a liner to Emma Froemke as SU knocked off the Tigers.
Nance got the win, throwing four innings and giving up three hits and one run. Smith earned the save with three scoreless innings. She struck out five hitters and allowed just one hit.
The win marks SU's second win over a ranked team in the last two seasons. It beat No. 25 Illinois, 6-2, on March 19, 2019, at Tulsa.
The Redhawks also dropped a 9-2 contest to Long Beach State. Cherise Silvan went 2-3 with a triple to lead the SU attack.
SU heads to Hawai'i for the Mahilhini Kipa Aloha Tournament next weekend.
Against Missouri, SU got up early and locked up the Tigers' offense on its way to a big win on Sunday. After Nance pitched a 1-2-3 first, Olivia Viggiano singled to open the bottom of the frame. With one out, Madison Cathcart was hit by a pitch. Thompson went down in the count 1-2, but followed by hammering a high drive over the fence in left field for a 3-0 lead.
Nance pitched a hitless second before Missouri got on the board with a run in the third. The Tigers put two on to start the fourth, but Nance picked up a pop-out, a strikeout, and a lineout to Alyson Matriotti to extricate herself from the jam.
Mekenzie Madokoro singled and Grace Dudden doubled in the fourth, but the Redhawks couldn't find more runs. SU went to Smith in relief for the top of the fifth as the junior was tasked with earning a three-inning save. Missouri put two runners on in the fifth, but Smith claimed a strikeout and a pop-up to close the threat.
In the sixth, Smith struck out the side, going to a 2-2 count on all three batters before downing the Tigers with two called third strikes and then a swinging K to get the Redhawks three outs away.
Missouri was hit by a pitch to start the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate. Smith closed out the win with a flyout, a strikeout, and a liner to Emma Froemke as SU knocked off the Tigers.
Nance got the win, throwing four innings and giving up three hits and one run. Smith earned the save with three scoreless innings. She struck out five hitters and allowed just one hit.
The win marks SU's second win over a ranked team in the last two seasons. It beat No. 25 Illinois, 6-2, on March 19, 2019, at Tulsa.
The Redhawks also dropped a 9-2 contest to Long Beach State. Cherise Silvan went 2-3 with a triple to lead the SU attack.
SU heads to Hawai'i for the Mahilhini Kipa Aloha Tournament next weekend.