SEATTLE – Seattle U softball captured a series sweep of Southern Utah on Saturday afternoon, walking it off in the fifth inning after taking an eight run lead at 9-1. Sydney Frankenberger was the Redhawks' best hitter in this contest, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs. The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) contest took place at Logan Field on the campus of Seattle U in Seattle.
The three-game sweep improves Seattle U to 27-14 and over .500 in WAC play at 8-7.
The Redhawks opened the game with two runs in the first inning, marking the 19th time this season they've scored in the first inning. Olivia Viggiano led off the contest with a single back up the middle before Madison Kahwaty got aboard after being hit by a pitch. Jocelynn De La Cruz was responsible for knocking home the first run, smacking a ball back up the middle. On the very next pitch, Frankenberger would single through the right side to double the lead after one inning.
Those two runs were all Grace Luderer would need in order to grab the win and improve to 8-3 on the year. The sophomore from Tarzana, Calif., allowed just one run in a complete game effort with three strikeouts. Luderer's strong performance had a nice start, allowing just two base runners in the first three innings and striking out the first two Thunderbirds of the third inning.
T3 | ? K's in a row!
— Seattle U Softball ?? (@seattleusb) April 15, 2023
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Seattle U put the game away in the third inning much like they did in the second game on Friday, scoring six runs on six hits. Tai Wilson and Kahwaty opened the third with two hits, with the former hitting a leadoff double and the latter getting on with a single up the middle. With the bases loaded and no outs, Frankenberger came to the plate and slapped a ball through the left side for two RBIs. Kalyn Hill followed with an RBI single of her own, smacking the ball just over the infield into center field. Ava Sin entered the contest as a pinch hitter two batters later and just missed a home run to center field that drove home another two runs in what would eventually be a double. Viggiano platted the final run of the inning, using her speed to beat out a single that was snagged at the edge of the center field grass.
B3 | AVA SIN GAVE IT A RIDE!
— Seattle U Softball ?? (@seattleusb) April 15, 2023
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In the fifth and final inning, Mekenzie Madokoro led off with a single to left field before Katie Walling crushed a double down the left field line that put the game ending run on third base. Madokoro scored the walk off run after the very next at bat as the first baseman was unable to come up with the ball.
SCORING SUMMARY
- First Inning: Jocelynn De La Cruz singled up the middle to score a run, followed by a Sydney Frankenberger single through the right side to score another.
- Third Inning: Frankenberger singled through the left side for two RBIs. Kalyn Hill singled over the head the second baseman, scoring a run. Ava Sin doubled to deep center field for two RBIs. Olivia Viggiano singled up the middle, scoring the final run of the inning.
- Fourth Inning: Southern Utah scored one run on a home run.
- Fifth Inning: Mekenzie Madokoro scores the walk off run on an error by the first baseman.
- Madison Kahwaty finished the three-game weekend with the highest average on the team, hitting five-for-eight (.625) with one home run, one double, six runs scored and six RBIs.
- Sydney Frankenberger (five-for-10) and Olivia Viggiano (five-for-11) both finished tied with Kahwaty for most hits on the weekend with five each.
- As a team, the Redhawks combined to hit .418 with 24 RBIs over the series.
- Seattle U was phenomenal in the circle, allowing only three runs in 17 innings over the three games.
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