OREM, Utah – Seattle University softball won, 9-6, at Utah Valley Saturday. Stephanie Merwin hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to lift the Redhawks to a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) series victory.
Seattle U led for much of the game, but Utah Valley rallied to tie it at 6 after six innings. Cherise Silvan led off the seventh with a bunt hit. A Bailey Thompson walk put two aboard. With two outs, Merwin worked to a full count and then drilled a deep flyball to the centerfield wall. The ball hit the wall and bounced back towards the infield, allowing all three runs to come around for a 9-6 lead.
Shi Smith, pitching in relief, threw a 1-2-3 seventh to get the win as SU claimed its second straight WAC series victory to start league play.
For the second straight day, SU's offense struck in the first inning to take control. With two outs, Madison Cathcart singled to right. Thompson hammered a 1-2 pitch deep over the centerfield wall for a 2-0 lead.
Stefanie Madrigal worked around baserunners in the first and second to keep UVU off the scoreboard. With two outs in the second, UVU singled on the infield and Cathcart fired home to beat a Wolverine trying to score.
Madrigal tossed another scoreless frame in the third. In the top of the fourth, Thompson drew a leadoff walk. After a Utah Valley error allowed Carley Nance to reach, Nance stole second. Merwin and Mekenzie Madokoro each singled up the middle to bring in a run as SU (17-16, 4-2 WAC) grabbed a 4-0 lead.
The Wolverines rallied with three runs in their half of the fourth, crawling back into the contest and causing the Redhawks to turn to Nance in relief.
Ally Choate was hit by a pitch to start the fifth. With two outs, Nance doubled in a run to make it 5-3. The hosts scored a run in the fifth to get back within a run.
Madokoro singled to start the sixth. Lily Garcia followed with a base hit and then Alyson Matriotti executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Olivia Viggiano recorded an RBI single on the infield to give SU a 6-4 advantage. Utah Valley came back with two runs in the sixth, but Smith eventually earned a lineout to leave the bases loaded as the teams headed to the seventh frame even at 6.
The Redhawks host California Baptist for a three-game series at Logan Field next weekend.
Seattle U led for much of the game, but Utah Valley rallied to tie it at 6 after six innings. Cherise Silvan led off the seventh with a bunt hit. A Bailey Thompson walk put two aboard. With two outs, Merwin worked to a full count and then drilled a deep flyball to the centerfield wall. The ball hit the wall and bounced back towards the infield, allowing all three runs to come around for a 9-6 lead.
Shi Smith, pitching in relief, threw a 1-2-3 seventh to get the win as SU claimed its second straight WAC series victory to start league play.
For the second straight day, SU's offense struck in the first inning to take control. With two outs, Madison Cathcart singled to right. Thompson hammered a 1-2 pitch deep over the centerfield wall for a 2-0 lead.
Stefanie Madrigal worked around baserunners in the first and second to keep UVU off the scoreboard. With two outs in the second, UVU singled on the infield and Cathcart fired home to beat a Wolverine trying to score.
Madrigal tossed another scoreless frame in the third. In the top of the fourth, Thompson drew a leadoff walk. After a Utah Valley error allowed Carley Nance to reach, Nance stole second. Merwin and Mekenzie Madokoro each singled up the middle to bring in a run as SU (17-16, 4-2 WAC) grabbed a 4-0 lead.
The Wolverines rallied with three runs in their half of the fourth, crawling back into the contest and causing the Redhawks to turn to Nance in relief.
Ally Choate was hit by a pitch to start the fifth. With two outs, Nance doubled in a run to make it 5-3. The hosts scored a run in the fifth to get back within a run.
Madokoro singled to start the sixth. Lily Garcia followed with a base hit and then Alyson Matriotti executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Olivia Viggiano recorded an RBI single on the infield to give SU a 6-4 advantage. Utah Valley came back with two runs in the sixth, but Smith eventually earned a lineout to leave the bases loaded as the teams headed to the seventh frame even at 6.
The Redhawks host California Baptist for a three-game series at Logan Field next weekend.