ST. GEORGE, Utah - Seattle U softball hits the road this weekend, traveling to St. George, Utah, for its fourth Western Athletic Conference (WAC) series of the season. The Redhawks will face off against the newly rebranded Utah Tech in three games over Friday and Saturday.
All three contests will feature live streaming on ESPN+ as well as live stats. The Redhawks are 9-0 all time against the Trailblazers, taking all three games last season in St. George.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Friday, April 7 at 1 p.m. pacific time
- Seattle U (24-11, 5-4 WAC) at Utah Tech (21-13. 6-3 WAC)
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Friday, April 7 at 3 p.m. pacific time
- Seattle U at Utah Tech
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Saturday, April 8 at 11 a.m. pacific time
- Seattle at Utah Tech
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
WAC SERIES VICTORY
The Redhawks claimed their second straight WAC series victory last weekend, taking down Sam Houston in a doubleheader on Saturday. Seattle U won the first game thanks to a seven run fifth inning that was capped off by a Katie Walling grand slam. With a 3-2 count, Walling crushed a ball over the left field fence to put the game out of reach. Grace Luderer (7-2) picked up the win, allowing no earned runs over five innings with four strikeouts after coming in out of the bullpen.
Olivia Viggiano opened the second game of the day with a leadoff home run, placing a ball into left field and flying around the bases for the inside-the-parker. Three consecutive doubles in the bottom of the fourth by Lily Garcia, Viggiano and Tai Wilson allowed the Redhawks to take a three run lead that they would never relinquish. Stefanie Madrigal grabbed her 12th win of the season, throwing four strikeouts in a complete game performance.
The Redhawks are off to a historic start this season, holding a record of 24-11 overall to mark the program's best record through 35 games in their Division I history. Seattle U's previous best 35 game opening stretch came during SU's DII days, beginning the season 26-8-1 in 2008.
CHASING HISTORY
Graduate student Olivia Viggiano is just four hits away from breaking Seattle U's all-time hits record of 235. The Mission Viejo, California, native enjoyed a fabulous weekend at the plate, hitting 8-for-12 with one home run, one double and two RBIs. Viggiano began the weekend with a two hit game on Friday, before tying her career-high with three hits in both games of the doubleheader. Viggiano is now tied for the team lead in multi-hit games with 13.
Viggiano already broke the all-time career triples and at bat record earlier in the season and holds the record for most runs scored at 154. The outfielder also currently ranks second in stolen bases (51).
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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