TUCSON, Ariz. – Seattle University softball took down Southern Utah, 11-2, on the second day of the Hillenbrand Invitational Saturday. The Redhawks also fell at fourth-ranked Arizona, 10-2, in five innings.
In the win over Southern Utah, the Redhawks (3-6) struck for three runs in the first inning and never looked back. Olivia Viggiano led off the game with a bunt hit. She later stole second before a Bailey Thompson walk. Cherise Silvan with a deep drive to right centerfield. The ball caromed off the wall and skittered away from the Thunderbird outfielders. Silvan hustled all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 3-0 lead.
Alyson Matriotti singled and Viggiano doubled her home in the second. Ally Choate's sacrifice fly brought in Viggiano to make it 5-0.
In the circle, Stefanie Madrigal continued her stellar weekend with four scoreless innings.
Matriotti started a fourth-inning rally with a bunt single. She moved around the basepaths with heads-up baserunning and came in to score on a Choate RBI hit. Thompson drove in Choate with a single up the middle as SU grabbed a 7-0 advantage.
Mekenzie Madokoro and Matriotti each singled in the fifth and with two outs, Choate delivered a base hit to left for another run.
Kamryn Coleman pitched in relief in the fifth and struck out the side, but the Thunderbirds scored a run to extend the game. In the seventh, Choate drew a one-out walk and Madison Cathcart followed with a double to drive her in. Thompson then hammered a two-run shot well over the wall in right center for an 11-1 margin.
SUU scored a run in its half of the seventh, but Coleman closed the door as the Redhawks claimed their third straight victory.
Madrigal pitched four shutout frames, allowing just three hits and striking out five. Matriotti went 3-3 with two runs, while Thompson and Silvan both had two-hit, three-RBI days. Viggiano posted a pair of hits, two runs, and an RBI. Choate added two hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
In the nightcap against the Wildcats, Arizona scored three runs in the first and a pair in the second to go ahead early. After a scoreless third, the Redhawks put together a strong frame to get on the board. Silvan singled in the infield and advanced on a fielder's choice. Carley Nance drilled a double to right to score Silvan. With two outs, Viggiano reached on an error that allowed another run to come around.
Arizona put up five more runs in the fourth to take a 10-2 margin. SU was unable to score to continue the game in the fifth.
Choate posted two hits to lead the attack.
SU wraps this weekend's action with a game against New Mexico tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 8 a.m. Pacific (9 a.m. Mountain) in Tucson.
In the win over Southern Utah, the Redhawks (3-6) struck for three runs in the first inning and never looked back. Olivia Viggiano led off the game with a bunt hit. She later stole second before a Bailey Thompson walk. Cherise Silvan with a deep drive to right centerfield. The ball caromed off the wall and skittered away from the Thunderbird outfielders. Silvan hustled all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 3-0 lead.
Alyson Matriotti singled and Viggiano doubled her home in the second. Ally Choate's sacrifice fly brought in Viggiano to make it 5-0.
In the circle, Stefanie Madrigal continued her stellar weekend with four scoreless innings.
Matriotti started a fourth-inning rally with a bunt single. She moved around the basepaths with heads-up baserunning and came in to score on a Choate RBI hit. Thompson drove in Choate with a single up the middle as SU grabbed a 7-0 advantage.
Mekenzie Madokoro and Matriotti each singled in the fifth and with two outs, Choate delivered a base hit to left for another run.
Kamryn Coleman pitched in relief in the fifth and struck out the side, but the Thunderbirds scored a run to extend the game. In the seventh, Choate drew a one-out walk and Madison Cathcart followed with a double to drive her in. Thompson then hammered a two-run shot well over the wall in right center for an 11-1 margin.
SUU scored a run in its half of the seventh, but Coleman closed the door as the Redhawks claimed their third straight victory.
Madrigal pitched four shutout frames, allowing just three hits and striking out five. Matriotti went 3-3 with two runs, while Thompson and Silvan both had two-hit, three-RBI days. Viggiano posted a pair of hits, two runs, and an RBI. Choate added two hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
In the nightcap against the Wildcats, Arizona scored three runs in the first and a pair in the second to go ahead early. After a scoreless third, the Redhawks put together a strong frame to get on the board. Silvan singled in the infield and advanced on a fielder's choice. Carley Nance drilled a double to right to score Silvan. With two outs, Viggiano reached on an error that allowed another run to come around.
Arizona put up five more runs in the fourth to take a 10-2 margin. SU was unable to score to continue the game in the fifth.
Choate posted two hits to lead the attack.
SU wraps this weekend's action with a game against New Mexico tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 8 a.m. Pacific (9 a.m. Mountain) in Tucson.