SEATTLE - The Seattle U Redhawks kick off the 2022 season this week, heading to Illinois for a tournament hosted by DePaul. Seattle U will play five games this weekend, against Western Michigan, Murray State, Bowling Green, Ball State, and St. Thomas. There will be no video stream available for this weekend's games.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Friday, February 11 at 3:00 pm PT
- Seattle U vs. Western Michigan
- Live Stats
- Friday, February 11 at 5:30 pm PT
- Seattle U vs. Murray State
- Live Stats
- Saturday, February 12 at 3:00 pm PT
- Seattle U vs. Bowling Green
- Saturday, February 12 at 5:30 pm PT
- Seattle U vs. Ball State
- Sunday, February 13 at 9:30 am PT
- Seattle U vs. St. Thomas
- Live Stats
THE FAVORITES
For the third straight year, the Redhawks have been picked to win the WAC, this time receiving all five possible first-place votes to lead the West Division poll with 25 points. Seattle U has received 14 of 17 possible first-place votes in the last three seasons in the WAC preseason polls. This is the first time Seattle U has ever received every possible preseason first-place vote.
A TERRIFIC TRIO
Carley Nance, Olivia Viggiano, and Stefanie Madrigal were all named to the Preseason All-WAC Team. This is the fifth consecutive season that the Redhawks have had multiple players earn Preseason All-WAC. Seattle U has had at least one player earn Preseason All-WAC in all ten years that it has been a part of the WAC and has had multiple players in nine of ten years. Only once have the Redhawks had more players earn Preseason All-WAC in a single year: 2020, when five Redhawks were so honored.
TRIPLES ARE BEST, TRIPLES MAKE IT SAFE
Olivia Viggiano is now just two triples away from tying the Seattle U all-time Division I record of 11, set by Paige Bouska. Last season, Viggiano hit seven triples, tying Bouska's 2017 season for the most in a single season. The Redhawks had 13 triples as a team last year, the second-most in the WAC. That matched the single-season team record, set in 2017 as well.
PITCHING: IT'S GOOD
Seattle U had the top two individual ERAs in the WAC last season and will return both of those, with Carley Nance and Stefanie Madrigal back this year. Madrigal led the league with a 2.89 ERA while Nance had a 3.15. Only two other returners in the WAC, New Mexico State's Felicia De La Torre and Grand Canyon's Ryan Denhart, had ERAs under 4.00 last season. The Redhawks have had at least one pitcher with an ERA under 3.00 return in each of the last four seasons.
RUNNING WILD
The Redhawks finished last season with 49 stolen bases, just two off the WAC lead and the third time in the last four years Seattle U has had at least 45 steals. Seattle U had a 74% success rate. Only twice have the Redhawks stolen more bases with a higher success rate: 2018 (81 steals, 84% success rate) and 2008 (62, 89%). The returning Redhawks were 27-for-38 last year, a 71% success rate.
OBP, YOU KNOW ME
Three returning Redhawks had on-base percentages of .380 or better last year: Taylor DeDen (.417), Brooke Milder (.387), and MeKenzie Madokoro (.384). DeDen was one of 14 players in the WAC to record an OBP over .400 and one of four Redhawks to do so. No other WAC school had as many players with OBPs of .400 or better last year.
NEW FACES
The Redhawks welcome nine newcomers to this year's team, including seven freshmen. That is the most freshmen since 2011, when the Redhawks also had seven freshmen.
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