SEATTLE - Seattle U softball returns to Logan Field this weekend for its third Western Athletic Conference (WAC) series of the season, taking on Sam Houston in three games over Friday and Saturday.
All three contests will feature live streaming on ESPN+ as well as live stats. This will be the first ever meeting between the Bearkats and the Redhawks.
This weekend marks Seattle U's first ever Bark at the Park at Logan Field, covering all three games. Waivers and dog check in will be located by the press box with dogs permitted in the viewing area near the press box.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Friday, March 31 at 3 p.m.
- Seattle U (22-10, 3-3 WAC) vs Sam Houston (13-21, 4-2 WAC)
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Friday, March 31 at 5 p.m.
- Seattle U vs Sam Houston
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Saturday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
- Seattle vs Sam Houston
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
WAC SERIES VICTORY
The Redhawks claimed the series victory over Stephen F. Austin last weekend, taking two of three very tightly contested matchups in Nacogdoches, Texas. Seattle U took the series opener Friday night, scoring eight in the final frame to secure an 11-9 comeback victory. Tai Wilson dropped down a perfectly placed bunt single to allow the winning run to score, marking her fourth hit of the contest to tie Seattle U's single game hits record for the second time this season. Olivia Viggiano tied her career-high with three hits, opening the game with a leadoff triple for the 13th triple of her career.
SU took the series in the second game on Saturday, scoring two in the top of the seventh for a 4-2 win. Tai Wilson was once again the hero, smashing a triple to center field to score the game winning run. Naomi Chaidez was stellar in the circle, striking out a career-high seven Ladyjacks over 5.2 innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run.
The Redhawks are off to a historic start this season, holding a record of 22-10 overall to mark the program's best record through 32 games in their Division I history. Seattle U's previous best 32 game opening stretch came during SU's DII days, beginning the season 25-6-1 in 2008.
FINDING THEIR SWING
Both Kalyn Hill and Sydney Frankenberger have enjoyed success at the plate over their last 11 games, with the former hitting .433 (13-for-30) with one home run, five doubles, four walks and six RBIs and the latter hitting .464 (13-for-28) with one triple, two RBIs and four walks. Hill smashed four doubles this past weekend against SFA, tying her career-best with two in one game in the final game of the series. Frankenberger logged the game tying triple in the opening game of the doubleheader on Saturday, sending a ball into the right field corner with two outs.
STRONG IN THE CIRCLE
The Redhawks got some phenomenal pitching in the doubleheader on Saturday, with both Naomi Chaidez and Izzy Dino looking strong in the circle. Dino allowed just two runs in a complete game effort to go along with two strikeouts. The senior found her groove early, sitting the Ladyjacks down in order in the first and third inning. The native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, gave Seattle U a chance to take the lead in the seventh after preventing SFA from scoring when they had two runners on.
Chaidez had a career-best performance, setting new career-highs in innings pitched (5.2) and strikeouts (seven) as well as only allowing one earned run. The sophomore got herself going early, striking out three consecutive batters at one point and sending the Ladyjacks down in order in the first, fourth and fifth inning. Chaidez has looked great in both WAC series, holding a 1.62 ERA over 13 innings pitched with eight strikeouts and allowing just one extra base hit.
WAC AWARD WINNERS
Seattle U has already won two WAC Player of the Week awards entering conference play, with graduate student Jocelynn De La Cruz and senior Stefanie Madrigal winning hitter and pitcher of the week awards in back-to-back weeks.
Madrigal got the awards started, claiming her fourth career WAC Pitcher of the Week award (Feb. 19-26) after her performance at the Hawaii Invitational. The native of San Jose, Calif., went 3-0 over three appearances (two starts), posting an ERA of 0.88.
After picking up a win over St. Bonaventure out of the bullpen, Madrigal got the start against Marist and performed like she has all season. The senior claimed the victory after throwing a complete game, allowing only one run across five hits and striking out four. Madrigal ended the weekend with her best performance, throwing a complete game shutout against Hawaii.
De La Cruz followed the previous week, taking her first career WAC Hitter of the Week award (Feb. 26-Mar. 5) after the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California. The Menifee, California, native was phenomenal at the plate over that weekend, hitting .471 with one double, four home runs and 13 RBIs
The 5-10, graduate student's first home run of the weekend came in her opening at bat against Fresno State on Saturday, smashing a three-run shot to center field. De La Cruz would connect on a solo home run in her very next at bat, tying Seattle U's single game home run record. She'd continue her great momentum at the plate later that day against LMU, going three-for-four with one double and one RBI.
De La Cruz opened the scoring against San Jose State on Sunday, crushing a two-run shot to left field for her third home run of the weekend. She capped off her stellar weekend with a grand slam against Minnesota, helping SU complete a seventh inning comeback.
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