PHOENIX – Seattle University softball rallied to sweep Grand Canyon in a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) doubleheader Friday afternoon. Madison Cathcart set the WAC career record with her 58th double to lift the Redhawks to victories by scores of 7-3 and 5-3 at GCU Softball Stadium.
With the wins, Seattle U needs a win or a New Mexico State loss on Saturday to secure the WAC regular-season crown. If SU and NM State both win or both lose on Saturday, the teams would share the title, with the Redhawks earning the top seed in next week's WAC Tournament due to their series win over the Aggies in March.
SU (26-18, 13-4 WAC) dropped seven runs in the first three innings of the opener. A Lope error allowed Bailey Thompson to reach base in the first. Cathcart followed with a two-run shot over the rightfield fence for a quick 2-0 lead. Stefanie Madrigal threw a scoreless first in the other half of the frame.
Cherise Silvan's bunt single got the action started in the second. Brooke Milder then singled through the left side to put two runners aboard. A Lily Garcia sacrifice bunt advanced the Redhawk runners for Alyson Matriotti. The senior came through with a base hit, but Silvan was thrown out at home on the play. Olivia Viggiano singled to right, though, bringing in two more runs to double the SU margin.
The hosts hit a two-run home run in the second, but Madrigal earned two strikeouts to close the inning.
In the third, Ally Choate led off with an infield hit. Thompson was hit by a pitch and then Cathcart doubled off the wall in left to drive in Choate. The hit chased the GCU starter from the contest. With one out, Silvan and Milder each hit RBI singles to center to make it 7-2.
Madrigal handled the rest, allowing no more than one baserunner in any frame down the stretch. She claimed her ninth win of the year with a complete-game effort, striking out four Lopes.
The Redhawks totaled 11 hits, as Cathcart, Viggiano, Choate, Silvan, and Milder each had a pair of hits in the game.
In the nightcap, the teams locked in a pitcher's duel, as Shi Smith held down the GCU offense for much of the day. The hosts scored a run in the second, but the Redhawks leveled the score in the fourth. Cathcart doubled and Silvan walked. Milder's groundout to short was enough to plate pinch-runner Hannah Sasaki to make it 1-all.
After a scoreless fifth, SU took the lead in the top of the sixth. Thompson doubled to lead off, which caused a GCU pitching change. Mekenzie Madokoro came on as a pinch-runner and stole third. Cathcart then walked, and with one out, Silvan singled through the right side to drive in the go-ahead run. The Redhawks ended up stranding three runners in the frame.
The Lopes singled and homered to go up, 3-2, in the bottom of the inning.
Viggiano and Choate each walked to spark a rally in the seventh. Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Cathcart. The senior drilled a line drive over the head of the GCU centerfielder for her third double of the day and a 4-3 advantage. Silvan followed with an insurance run, singling to center to make it 5-3.
In the bottom of the frame, Smith allowed a single to start the action. After getting a foulout, Smith induced a sharp groundball to short, where Milder fielded and tossed to Lily Garcia at second, who fired to Cathcart for a game-ending double play.
Cathcart finished the game 3-3 with a pair of doubles, passing Fresno State's Christina Clark on the all-time conference list. Silvan recorded two RBI singles to support the offense. Smith pitched seven innings, giving up five hits and striking out five Lopes for her ninth win of the year.
The teams will meet in the regular-season finale tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon at GCU.
With the wins, Seattle U needs a win or a New Mexico State loss on Saturday to secure the WAC regular-season crown. If SU and NM State both win or both lose on Saturday, the teams would share the title, with the Redhawks earning the top seed in next week's WAC Tournament due to their series win over the Aggies in March.
SU (26-18, 13-4 WAC) dropped seven runs in the first three innings of the opener. A Lope error allowed Bailey Thompson to reach base in the first. Cathcart followed with a two-run shot over the rightfield fence for a quick 2-0 lead. Stefanie Madrigal threw a scoreless first in the other half of the frame.
Cherise Silvan's bunt single got the action started in the second. Brooke Milder then singled through the left side to put two runners aboard. A Lily Garcia sacrifice bunt advanced the Redhawk runners for Alyson Matriotti. The senior came through with a base hit, but Silvan was thrown out at home on the play. Olivia Viggiano singled to right, though, bringing in two more runs to double the SU margin.
The hosts hit a two-run home run in the second, but Madrigal earned two strikeouts to close the inning.
In the third, Ally Choate led off with an infield hit. Thompson was hit by a pitch and then Cathcart doubled off the wall in left to drive in Choate. The hit chased the GCU starter from the contest. With one out, Silvan and Milder each hit RBI singles to center to make it 7-2.
Madrigal handled the rest, allowing no more than one baserunner in any frame down the stretch. She claimed her ninth win of the year with a complete-game effort, striking out four Lopes.
The Redhawks totaled 11 hits, as Cathcart, Viggiano, Choate, Silvan, and Milder each had a pair of hits in the game.
In the nightcap, the teams locked in a pitcher's duel, as Shi Smith held down the GCU offense for much of the day. The hosts scored a run in the second, but the Redhawks leveled the score in the fourth. Cathcart doubled and Silvan walked. Milder's groundout to short was enough to plate pinch-runner Hannah Sasaki to make it 1-all.
After a scoreless fifth, SU took the lead in the top of the sixth. Thompson doubled to lead off, which caused a GCU pitching change. Mekenzie Madokoro came on as a pinch-runner and stole third. Cathcart then walked, and with one out, Silvan singled through the right side to drive in the go-ahead run. The Redhawks ended up stranding three runners in the frame.
The Lopes singled and homered to go up, 3-2, in the bottom of the inning.
Viggiano and Choate each walked to spark a rally in the seventh. Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Cathcart. The senior drilled a line drive over the head of the GCU centerfielder for her third double of the day and a 4-3 advantage. Silvan followed with an insurance run, singling to center to make it 5-3.
In the bottom of the frame, Smith allowed a single to start the action. After getting a foulout, Smith induced a sharp groundball to short, where Milder fielded and tossed to Lily Garcia at second, who fired to Cathcart for a game-ending double play.
Cathcart finished the game 3-3 with a pair of doubles, passing Fresno State's Christina Clark on the all-time conference list. Silvan recorded two RBI singles to support the offense. Smith pitched seven innings, giving up five hits and striking out five Lopes for her ninth win of the year.
The teams will meet in the regular-season finale tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon at GCU.