LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Seattle University softball hammered Idaho State, 8-0 in five innings on Saturday morning. SU then fell at UNLV, 8-7, on the second day of the Boyd Gaming Classic, hosted by UNLV. Madison Cathcart and Brooke Milder both had four hits in the game against the Rebels, while Bailey Thompson hit a grand slam in the win over ISU.
The Redhawks did all their damage in the second inning against Idaho State. Stephanie Merwin started the action with an infield single. She then stole second base. Mekenzie Madokoro reached via error and then Lily Garcia advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Alyson Matriotti came through a line drive to deep center, as the senior hustled around for a two-run triple. Olivia Viggiano continued the roll with an infield hit that plated Matriotti for a 3-0 lead. Viggiano stole second and Ally Choate was hit by a pitch. Madison Cathcart followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. Thompson worked a 2-2 count and then hammered a grand slam over the fence in left center to make it 7-0 and chase the Bengals' starter. Cherise Silvan then reached on an error and alertly took second when the defense was inattentive. Merwin walked in her second appearance of the frame and a Madokoro fielder's choice scored Silvan as the Redhawks finished an eight-run inning, marking a season high for runs in a frame.
Madrigal handled the rest, throwing three perfect frames and keeping ISU off the scoreboard. The sophomore tallied three strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Viggiano led the offense with two hits, an RBI, and a run.
SU nearly knocked off UNLV for a second straight day, but the hosts rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a win. Viggiano led off the game with a base hit and then Choate walked. Cathcart singled to right to load the bases. Thompson followed with a two-run single to left for a 2-0 lead. Silvan reached on an error that allowed Cathcart to score and then Milder singled to plate another run, giving SU a 4-0 cushion after half an inning.
UNLV answered with a two-run homer in its half of the first, but the Redhawks rallied again in the top of the second. Matriotti reached on an error to start the frame. Viggiano then singled and stole second base. With one out, Cathcart singled up the middle to drive in Matriotti and Viggiano for a 6-2 margin. The Rebels again scored twice in their at-bat, and again, SU put together more action in the third. Milder singled and eventually scored on a Cathcart walk.
UNLV slowly crawled back and got within 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh. It put up three runs to claim the contest in walk-off fashion.
Cathcart went 4-4 with a walk and three RBIs, while Milder tallied a career-high four hits to go with an RBI and a run. Viggiano and Thompson each added two hits as the Redhawks notched 14 hits in the game.
SU (8-11) concludes its weekend action with a game against Idaho State tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.
The Redhawks did all their damage in the second inning against Idaho State. Stephanie Merwin started the action with an infield single. She then stole second base. Mekenzie Madokoro reached via error and then Lily Garcia advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Alyson Matriotti came through a line drive to deep center, as the senior hustled around for a two-run triple. Olivia Viggiano continued the roll with an infield hit that plated Matriotti for a 3-0 lead. Viggiano stole second and Ally Choate was hit by a pitch. Madison Cathcart followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. Thompson worked a 2-2 count and then hammered a grand slam over the fence in left center to make it 7-0 and chase the Bengals' starter. Cherise Silvan then reached on an error and alertly took second when the defense was inattentive. Merwin walked in her second appearance of the frame and a Madokoro fielder's choice scored Silvan as the Redhawks finished an eight-run inning, marking a season high for runs in a frame.
Madrigal handled the rest, throwing three perfect frames and keeping ISU off the scoreboard. The sophomore tallied three strikeouts in the complete-game effort. Viggiano led the offense with two hits, an RBI, and a run.
SU nearly knocked off UNLV for a second straight day, but the hosts rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a win. Viggiano led off the game with a base hit and then Choate walked. Cathcart singled to right to load the bases. Thompson followed with a two-run single to left for a 2-0 lead. Silvan reached on an error that allowed Cathcart to score and then Milder singled to plate another run, giving SU a 4-0 cushion after half an inning.
UNLV answered with a two-run homer in its half of the first, but the Redhawks rallied again in the top of the second. Matriotti reached on an error to start the frame. Viggiano then singled and stole second base. With one out, Cathcart singled up the middle to drive in Matriotti and Viggiano for a 6-2 margin. The Rebels again scored twice in their at-bat, and again, SU put together more action in the third. Milder singled and eventually scored on a Cathcart walk.
UNLV slowly crawled back and got within 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh. It put up three runs to claim the contest in walk-off fashion.
Cathcart went 4-4 with a walk and three RBIs, while Milder tallied a career-high four hits to go with an RBI and a run. Viggiano and Thompson each added two hits as the Redhawks notched 14 hits in the game.
SU (8-11) concludes its weekend action with a game against Idaho State tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.