OREM, Utah – Seattle University softball split a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) doubleheader at Utah Valley Friday afternoon. Carley Nance carried SU to a 7-1 win in the opener before the Wolverines rallied for a 5-4 decision in the second contest.
SU put together a terrific first game, as the offense compiled 12 hits and Nance pitched a stellar complete game.
Olivia Viggiano led off the contest with a full-count base hit. Ally Choate followed with a base hit to center. With one out, Bailey Thompson doubled to left, driving in Viggiano for a 1-0 lead. Nance followed with an RBI single through the right side to bring in another run.
Nance picked up a strikeout on her way to a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the first.
UVU recorded two hits in the second, but Nance earned two strikeouts to move the game to the third inning.
With one out in the fourth, Cherise Silvan sparked a rally with a single up the middle. Mekenzie Madokoro then tripled to left center to make it 3-0. With two down, Viggiano came through with an infield hit to plate Madokoro for a 4-0 advantage.
Nance was in the midst of retiring nine straight batters as SU cruised through the middle portion of the game. She started the sixth with a double. Madokoro stretched the margin with an RBI single, and after another Viggiano hit, Choate singled down the left field line for a 6-0 lead.
The hosts got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, but the Redhawks answered with a run in their half of the seventh, as Nance hit a sacrifice fly to give her side a 7-1 lead. Nance closed out her effort with a strikeout and groundout to end the contest.
Nance pitched a complete game, striking out five and allowing just one run. She added two hits and two RBIs at the plate. Viggiano and Choate each tallied three hits and an RBI. Madokoro claimed a pair of hits, including a triple and two RBIs.
In the nightcap, Smith kept the Wolverines off-balance for the first four innings, as the contest headed to the fifth with no score.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Choate singled to left. Madison Cathcart smashed a two-run homer to center for a 2-0 advantage. Thompson promptly followed with a double. Nance brought her in with a double to left center for a 3-0 lead. The hosts replied with a five-run fifth to gain control and a 5-3 margin. Stefanie Madrigal came on in relief to get the last two outs of the fifth and then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.
In the seventh, Choate doubled to start a rally. A two-out double by Thompson drove in Choate and put the tying run on second base. Nance was intentionally walked to put two runners aboard. SU was unable to find the tying run, though, as Utah Valley took the Friday split.
Choate and Thompson led the attack with two hits apiece.
The teams meet for a single game tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific (noon Mountain) at UVU.
SU put together a terrific first game, as the offense compiled 12 hits and Nance pitched a stellar complete game.
Olivia Viggiano led off the contest with a full-count base hit. Ally Choate followed with a base hit to center. With one out, Bailey Thompson doubled to left, driving in Viggiano for a 1-0 lead. Nance followed with an RBI single through the right side to bring in another run.
Nance picked up a strikeout on her way to a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the first.
UVU recorded two hits in the second, but Nance earned two strikeouts to move the game to the third inning.
With one out in the fourth, Cherise Silvan sparked a rally with a single up the middle. Mekenzie Madokoro then tripled to left center to make it 3-0. With two down, Viggiano came through with an infield hit to plate Madokoro for a 4-0 advantage.
Nance was in the midst of retiring nine straight batters as SU cruised through the middle portion of the game. She started the sixth with a double. Madokoro stretched the margin with an RBI single, and after another Viggiano hit, Choate singled down the left field line for a 6-0 lead.
The hosts got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, but the Redhawks answered with a run in their half of the seventh, as Nance hit a sacrifice fly to give her side a 7-1 lead. Nance closed out her effort with a strikeout and groundout to end the contest.
Nance pitched a complete game, striking out five and allowing just one run. She added two hits and two RBIs at the plate. Viggiano and Choate each tallied three hits and an RBI. Madokoro claimed a pair of hits, including a triple and two RBIs.
In the nightcap, Smith kept the Wolverines off-balance for the first four innings, as the contest headed to the fifth with no score.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Choate singled to left. Madison Cathcart smashed a two-run homer to center for a 2-0 advantage. Thompson promptly followed with a double. Nance brought her in with a double to left center for a 3-0 lead. The hosts replied with a five-run fifth to gain control and a 5-3 margin. Stefanie Madrigal came on in relief to get the last two outs of the fifth and then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.
In the seventh, Choate doubled to start a rally. A two-out double by Thompson drove in Choate and put the tying run on second base. Nance was intentionally walked to put two runners aboard. SU was unable to find the tying run, though, as Utah Valley took the Friday split.
Choate and Thompson led the attack with two hits apiece.
The teams meet for a single game tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific (noon Mountain) at UVU.