SEATTLE – Seattle University softball won its second straight Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Championship with a 7-5 win over New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon at Logan Field. Carley Nance became the first player in conference history to be named WAC Tournament MVP twice.
Seattle U will wait for Sunday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show to find out where it will head next. The show is tomorrow at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Nance was joined by Mekenzie Madokoro, Alyson Matriotti, Bailey Thompson, and Olivia Viggiano on the WAC All-Tournament Team.
Viggiano led off the game with a walk. With one out, Thompson hammered an 0-1 offering to straightaway centerfield for a two-run homer. Nance blanked the Aggies in their half of the first, but NMSU homered to cut the margin in half in the second frame. Nance then allowed a single, but Lily Garcia fielded a sharp groundball, tagged second and fired to first for a highlight 6-3 double play.
SU stranded the bases loaded in the third. Matriotti made a terrific diving play and strong throw to retire an Aggie in the bottom of the third as Nance rolled through the inning.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Redhawks put together a rally in the fifth. Madison Cathcart walked and then an error allowed Cherise Silvan to reach. The duo advanced on a wild pitch and then Stephanie Merwin singled to right, bringing in Cathcart. After an NM State pitching change, Mekenzie Madokoro singled to drive in Silvan for a 4-1 advantage.
Nance walked a pair in the bottom of the inning, but a strikeout and then another Matriotti double play ended the threat. Matriotti charged on a bunt, caught the ball and fired to first to double off the runner.
The hosts recorded a two-out rally in the sixth. Cathcart and Nance walked and then Silvan smashed a three-run home run to right center to make it 7-1.
The Aggies answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Shi Smith came on in relief to get a clutch strikeout with the bases loaded to close the frame. NMSU scored again in the seventh, but Smith induced a groundout to Brooke Milder at short for the final out, sending the Redhawks into celebration in front of their home fans.
Seattle U will wait for Sunday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show to find out where it will head next. The show is tomorrow at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Nance was joined by Mekenzie Madokoro, Alyson Matriotti, Bailey Thompson, and Olivia Viggiano on the WAC All-Tournament Team.
Viggiano led off the game with a walk. With one out, Thompson hammered an 0-1 offering to straightaway centerfield for a two-run homer. Nance blanked the Aggies in their half of the first, but NMSU homered to cut the margin in half in the second frame. Nance then allowed a single, but Lily Garcia fielded a sharp groundball, tagged second and fired to first for a highlight 6-3 double play.
SU stranded the bases loaded in the third. Matriotti made a terrific diving play and strong throw to retire an Aggie in the bottom of the third as Nance rolled through the inning.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Redhawks put together a rally in the fifth. Madison Cathcart walked and then an error allowed Cherise Silvan to reach. The duo advanced on a wild pitch and then Stephanie Merwin singled to right, bringing in Cathcart. After an NM State pitching change, Mekenzie Madokoro singled to drive in Silvan for a 4-1 advantage.
Nance walked a pair in the bottom of the inning, but a strikeout and then another Matriotti double play ended the threat. Matriotti charged on a bunt, caught the ball and fired to first to double off the runner.
The hosts recorded a two-out rally in the sixth. Cathcart and Nance walked and then Silvan smashed a three-run home run to right center to make it 7-1.
The Aggies answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Shi Smith came on in relief to get a clutch strikeout with the bases loaded to close the frame. NMSU scored again in the seventh, but Smith induced a groundout to Brooke Milder at short for the final out, sending the Redhawks into celebration in front of their home fans.