TUCSON, Ariz. – Seattle University softball won twice on the first day of the Hillenbrand Invitational, hosted by the University of Arizona. The Redhawks beat Southern Utah, 9-1, in five innings before taking down New Mexico, 8-0, in six innings.
"These were two great team wins," said SU Coach Geoff Hirai. "The energy from the dugout was great to see. We're figuring out our identity."
Shi Smith and Stefanie Madrigal both pitched terrific games, as each threw a complete game Friday. Smith struck out eight and walked none, while Madrigal hurled a six-hit shutout.
Against the Thunderbirds, Smith struck out a pair in the first inning. SU immediately went to work on offense, as Olivia Viggiano led off with a single. Ally Choate was hit by a pitch and Madison Cathcart followed with a base hit up the middle, plating Viggiano for the day's first run.
Smith struck out the side in order in the second and worked around a third-inning single. In the bottom of the third, Choate doubled down the leftfield line. Cathcart came through again, this time singling through the right side to drive in Choate.
Southern Utah homered in the fourth to get on the board, but the Redhawks were ready with an answer in their half of the frame. Stephanie Merwin led off with a double and with one out, Brooke Milder lined a two-bagger to center, scoring Merwin for a 3-1 lead. Kamryn Coleman tallied a pinch-hit single and then Alyson Matriotti re-entered and stole second. Viggiano tripled to the wall to score two more runs. Choate made it 7-1 with an RBI single to bring in Viggiano.
Smith claimed a 1-2-3 fifth to give SU a chance to end the game early. Three SUU errors and a passed ball led to a run and then Mekenzie Madokoro singled to right, scoring Milder and closing the game at 9-1.
Smith threw five innings with eight strikeouts. She allowed three hits and one run. Choate went 2-2 with a HBP, an RBI, and a run. Cathcart posted two hits and two RBIs, while Viggiano went 2-3 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Madrigal looked to match Smith's effort against New Mexico. The sophomore earned a perfect first inning to bring SU to the dish. Viggiano drew a walk and Choate reached on a bunt single. With one out, Bailey Thompson singled to center for an RBI. Cherise Silvan then flied out and Choate hustled home to score before another runner was tagged.
In the second, two Lobos reached, but Madrigal induced a groundball to third to get away without damage. UNM loaded the bases in the top of the third, but two groundouts allowed SU to escape again. Cathcart was hit by a pitch in the third and pinch-runner Hannah Sasaki stole second. Thompson brought her in with a double and then Thompson scored on a Silvan sac fly for a 4-0 advantage.
Madrigal picked up two strikeouts in the fourth, but in the fifth, the Lobos loaded the bases once more. Madrigal battled to get a looking K and then recorded a groundout to first, keeping UNM off the scoreboard.
In the sixth, SU put down UNM in order, giving the Redhawks an opportunity to end the game with four more runs. With one out, Madokoro hit a bunt single. Jasmine Wehn walked with two outs and Virginia Nemeth singled to fill the bases. Choate then singled to drive in a run. Cathcart and Thompson each walked as the lead ballooned. Silvan's RBI single ended the game in the sixth.
Madrigal pitched six frames, allowing six hits and striking out four. Thompson and Choate each contributed two hits, while Thompson and Silvan each drove in three runs.
Seattle U returns for two games tomorrow, as it will take on Southern Utah and No. 4 Arizona.
"These were two great team wins," said SU Coach Geoff Hirai. "The energy from the dugout was great to see. We're figuring out our identity."
Shi Smith and Stefanie Madrigal both pitched terrific games, as each threw a complete game Friday. Smith struck out eight and walked none, while Madrigal hurled a six-hit shutout.
Against the Thunderbirds, Smith struck out a pair in the first inning. SU immediately went to work on offense, as Olivia Viggiano led off with a single. Ally Choate was hit by a pitch and Madison Cathcart followed with a base hit up the middle, plating Viggiano for the day's first run.
Smith struck out the side in order in the second and worked around a third-inning single. In the bottom of the third, Choate doubled down the leftfield line. Cathcart came through again, this time singling through the right side to drive in Choate.
Southern Utah homered in the fourth to get on the board, but the Redhawks were ready with an answer in their half of the frame. Stephanie Merwin led off with a double and with one out, Brooke Milder lined a two-bagger to center, scoring Merwin for a 3-1 lead. Kamryn Coleman tallied a pinch-hit single and then Alyson Matriotti re-entered and stole second. Viggiano tripled to the wall to score two more runs. Choate made it 7-1 with an RBI single to bring in Viggiano.
Smith claimed a 1-2-3 fifth to give SU a chance to end the game early. Three SUU errors and a passed ball led to a run and then Mekenzie Madokoro singled to right, scoring Milder and closing the game at 9-1.
Smith threw five innings with eight strikeouts. She allowed three hits and one run. Choate went 2-2 with a HBP, an RBI, and a run. Cathcart posted two hits and two RBIs, while Viggiano went 2-3 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Madrigal looked to match Smith's effort against New Mexico. The sophomore earned a perfect first inning to bring SU to the dish. Viggiano drew a walk and Choate reached on a bunt single. With one out, Bailey Thompson singled to center for an RBI. Cherise Silvan then flied out and Choate hustled home to score before another runner was tagged.
In the second, two Lobos reached, but Madrigal induced a groundball to third to get away without damage. UNM loaded the bases in the top of the third, but two groundouts allowed SU to escape again. Cathcart was hit by a pitch in the third and pinch-runner Hannah Sasaki stole second. Thompson brought her in with a double and then Thompson scored on a Silvan sac fly for a 4-0 advantage.
Madrigal picked up two strikeouts in the fourth, but in the fifth, the Lobos loaded the bases once more. Madrigal battled to get a looking K and then recorded a groundout to first, keeping UNM off the scoreboard.
In the sixth, SU put down UNM in order, giving the Redhawks an opportunity to end the game with four more runs. With one out, Madokoro hit a bunt single. Jasmine Wehn walked with two outs and Virginia Nemeth singled to fill the bases. Choate then singled to drive in a run. Cathcart and Thompson each walked as the lead ballooned. Silvan's RBI single ended the game in the sixth.
Madrigal pitched six frames, allowing six hits and striking out four. Thompson and Choate each contributed two hits, while Thompson and Silvan each drove in three runs.
Seattle U returns for two games tomorrow, as it will take on Southern Utah and No. 4 Arizona.