SEATTLE – Seattle University softball trailed early, but broke out for a five-run third inning on its way to a 5-4 win over Grand Canyon in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Thursday night. Carley Nance hit the go-ahead home run and claimed the win in relief for the Redhawks at Logan Field.
With the win, Seattle U (27-19) advanced to face fourth-seeded Utah Valley tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Logan Field. The Wolverines knocked off top-seeded NM State on Thursday afternoon. The Aggies and Lopes will square off in an elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m.
GCU scored a run in the second and added two more in the third to take control and chase SU starter Shi Smith from the game. Carley Nance came on and got out of trouble in the third, bringing the Redhawks to bat.
Alyson Matriotti led off with an infield hit. Olivia Viggiano then singled through the left side. Ally Choate followed with a base hit, but the ball hit Matriotti as she took off for third, putting runners at first and second with one out. Bailey Thompson hit a single through the left side to plate Viggiano and then Madison Cathcart followed with an RBI hit through the right side to make it 3-2. GCU made a pitching change as Nance prepared to hit. Nance lined a shot down the rightfield line that hit the fair pole for a three-run home run and a 5-3 advantage.
Nance handled the Lopes from there, holding GCU down over the final 4.2 innings of the night, as she only ran into trouble in the seventh. The Lopes scored and had the tying run at third, but Nance earned a strikeout and a groundout to end the contest.
Viggiano paced the offense with three hits and a run. Cathcart went 2-3 with an RBI and a run.
With the win, Seattle U (27-19) advanced to face fourth-seeded Utah Valley tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Logan Field. The Wolverines knocked off top-seeded NM State on Thursday afternoon. The Aggies and Lopes will square off in an elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m.
GCU scored a run in the second and added two more in the third to take control and chase SU starter Shi Smith from the game. Carley Nance came on and got out of trouble in the third, bringing the Redhawks to bat.
Alyson Matriotti led off with an infield hit. Olivia Viggiano then singled through the left side. Ally Choate followed with a base hit, but the ball hit Matriotti as she took off for third, putting runners at first and second with one out. Bailey Thompson hit a single through the left side to plate Viggiano and then Madison Cathcart followed with an RBI hit through the right side to make it 3-2. GCU made a pitching change as Nance prepared to hit. Nance lined a shot down the rightfield line that hit the fair pole for a three-run home run and a 5-3 advantage.
Nance handled the Lopes from there, holding GCU down over the final 4.2 innings of the night, as she only ran into trouble in the seventh. The Lopes scored and had the tying run at third, but Nance earned a strikeout and a groundout to end the contest.
Viggiano paced the offense with three hits and a run. Cathcart went 2-3 with an RBI and a run.