SEATTLE – Seattle University softball swept a doubleheader with New Mexico State Friday afternoon, beating the Aggies by scores of 6-4 and 4-1 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opener at Logan Field.
In the first games at Logan Field in 692 days, NM State (15-15, 0-2 WAC) scored first, but the Redhawks replied with a four-run frame to take control. Olivia Viggiano led off with a triple down the left field line. With one out, Madison Cathcart walked to become the WAC's all-time leader. She has 139 bases on balls at SU (15-14, 2-0 WAC), surpassing Hoku Nohara for most in conference history.
Thompson followed with a rocket to dead centerfield for a three-run homer. Stephanie Merwin drilled a solo home run to left center to make it 4-1 after an inning.
Stefanie Madrigal struck out two Aggies in the third as SU looked for more runs. In the bottom of the third, Thompson lined a solo shot to left for her second homer of the game and a 5-1 advantage.
The visitors put up a run in the fourth, but Madrigal induced two groundballs to Alyson Matriotti to get out of any further damage.
In the fifth, NMSU put two runners on, causing the Redhawks to bring in Shi Smith in relief. The Aggies brought in two runs, but Smith recorded two strikeouts to keep the Redhawks ahead, 5-4.
Smith claimed a pair of looking strikeouts in the sixth as she retired the Aggies in order. Viggiano hit a two-out single in the bottom of the frame. The junior then stole second and the throw got away from the defense and Viggiano cruised in for a key insurance run.
NM State singled and walked to get a potential rally going in the seventh. Smith got a lineout to center for the second out of the inning. After hitting a batter to load the bases, Smith closed the win with a swinging strikeout.
Thompson tallied two home runs and four RBIs. Viggiano went 3-4 with a triple, a steal and a run. Merwin posted a pair of hits, including a home run. In total, eight Redhawks reached base in the contest.
Madrigal grabbed the win as she struck out three and allowed just two earned runs. Smith's save featured five strikeouts across three frames of scoreless work.
The visitors scored again in the first inning of the nightcap. SU came back with a run to even the score in its first at-bat. Viggiano and Ally Choate reached base and Cathcart drew a walk to bring Thompson to the plate. The catcher came through with an RBI single through the right side to tie the game.
Carley Nance got rolling in the second, striking out the side in order. She followed with two more strikeouts in a 1-2-3 third. Nance hit a batter in the fourth, but retired the other three Aggies in the frame.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, the home side struck. Cherise Silvan hit a bunt single and then stole second. Nance walked to bring Merwin to the plate. She drilled a double to drive in Silvan for a 2-1 lead that sent NMSU to its bullpen. Kamryn Coleman greeted the new pitcher with a base hit to center that brought in another run.
The visitors loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Viggiano snagged a liner to center and then threw to Merwin covering second to double off the runner and end the threat.
Choate tripled to open the fifth and then Thompson doubled to left center to score a run for a 4-1 margin.
Nance rolled through a 1-2-3 sixth to bring the Redhawks to the brink of a Friday sweep to begin conference action.
Nance tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits. She struck out seven in the victory. Thompson went 2-3 with two RBIs, while Choate tallied two hits and scored a run.
The teams will meet tomorrow to wrap up the three-game set. First pitch is slated for noon at Logan Field.
In the first games at Logan Field in 692 days, NM State (15-15, 0-2 WAC) scored first, but the Redhawks replied with a four-run frame to take control. Olivia Viggiano led off with a triple down the left field line. With one out, Madison Cathcart walked to become the WAC's all-time leader. She has 139 bases on balls at SU (15-14, 2-0 WAC), surpassing Hoku Nohara for most in conference history.
Thompson followed with a rocket to dead centerfield for a three-run homer. Stephanie Merwin drilled a solo home run to left center to make it 4-1 after an inning.
Stefanie Madrigal struck out two Aggies in the third as SU looked for more runs. In the bottom of the third, Thompson lined a solo shot to left for her second homer of the game and a 5-1 advantage.
The visitors put up a run in the fourth, but Madrigal induced two groundballs to Alyson Matriotti to get out of any further damage.
In the fifth, NMSU put two runners on, causing the Redhawks to bring in Shi Smith in relief. The Aggies brought in two runs, but Smith recorded two strikeouts to keep the Redhawks ahead, 5-4.
Smith claimed a pair of looking strikeouts in the sixth as she retired the Aggies in order. Viggiano hit a two-out single in the bottom of the frame. The junior then stole second and the throw got away from the defense and Viggiano cruised in for a key insurance run.
NM State singled and walked to get a potential rally going in the seventh. Smith got a lineout to center for the second out of the inning. After hitting a batter to load the bases, Smith closed the win with a swinging strikeout.
Thompson tallied two home runs and four RBIs. Viggiano went 3-4 with a triple, a steal and a run. Merwin posted a pair of hits, including a home run. In total, eight Redhawks reached base in the contest.
Madrigal grabbed the win as she struck out three and allowed just two earned runs. Smith's save featured five strikeouts across three frames of scoreless work.
The visitors scored again in the first inning of the nightcap. SU came back with a run to even the score in its first at-bat. Viggiano and Ally Choate reached base and Cathcart drew a walk to bring Thompson to the plate. The catcher came through with an RBI single through the right side to tie the game.
Carley Nance got rolling in the second, striking out the side in order. She followed with two more strikeouts in a 1-2-3 third. Nance hit a batter in the fourth, but retired the other three Aggies in the frame.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, the home side struck. Cherise Silvan hit a bunt single and then stole second. Nance walked to bring Merwin to the plate. She drilled a double to drive in Silvan for a 2-1 lead that sent NMSU to its bullpen. Kamryn Coleman greeted the new pitcher with a base hit to center that brought in another run.
The visitors loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Viggiano snagged a liner to center and then threw to Merwin covering second to double off the runner and end the threat.
Choate tripled to open the fifth and then Thompson doubled to left center to score a run for a 4-1 margin.
Nance rolled through a 1-2-3 sixth to bring the Redhawks to the brink of a Friday sweep to begin conference action.
Nance tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits. She struck out seven in the victory. Thompson went 2-3 with two RBIs, while Choate tallied two hits and scored a run.
The teams will meet tomorrow to wrap up the three-game set. First pitch is slated for noon at Logan Field.