RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Seattle U softball clinched a berth to the 2023 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament on Friday, taking a doubleheader against California Baptist with a 5-2 win in the opener and a 7-3 in the final game of the day. Sophomore Tai Wilson was one of the Redhawks best hitters on the day, going six-for-eight with four runs scored and one RBI. Both WAC contests took place at Funk Stadium in Riverside, California.
The doubleheader sweep improves the Redhawks to 32-18 with a 13-10 record in WAC play.
GAME ONE
Seattle U claimed the victory in the opener after taking the lead in the third and tacking on two more in the fourth. After Sydney Frankenberger tied the contest in the second on an RBI single to center field, the Redhawks took the lead for good in the third via a Katie Walling RBI single to left center field.
In the fourth, Tai Wilson doubled the lead with an RBI single up the middle to score Lily Garcia who had just doubled two batters before. Madison Kahwaty followed immediately after with an RBI single of her own to score Wilson. Jocelynn De La Cruz marked her team-leading 10th home run of the season in the seventh, crushing a ball over the left center field fence.
T7 | JOCE CRUSHES HER 10TH OF THE YEAR!
— Seattle U Softball ?? (@seattleusb) May 6, 2023
SU 5
CBU 2 pic.twitter.com/FYoNVsrXDh
Stefanie Madrigal grabbed her WAC-leading 15th win of the season, throwing a complete game with just two runs allowed and a strikeout. Madrigal settled in nicely, retiring nine of 10 Lancers after allowing a run in the first inning.
GAME ONE SCORING SUMMARY
- First Inning: CBU scored one run on two hits.
- Second Inning: Sydney Frankenberger singled to center field for an RBI.
- Third Inning: Katie Walling singled to left center to put the Redhawks ahead.
- Fourth Inning: Tai Wilson singled up the middle, scoring a run. Madison Kahwaty singled up the middle, to score another. The Lancers scored one run on three hits.
- Seventh Inning: Jocelynn De La Cruz homered to left center field.
The Redhawks began this contest with two runs in the first inning, marking the 21st time they've scored in the opening frame this season. Olivia Viggiano and Tai Wilson began the game with back-to-back singles before Viggiano scored on a fielding error after Wilson stole second. Madison Kahwaty drove Wilson in right after, driving a single into left field with a full count.
Seattle U added another two runs in the fourth on three hits. Katie Walling marked her 11th straight game with a hit via a single to open the fourth, followed by a Sydney Frankenberger double to left center to put runners in scoring position with no outs. Mekenzie Madokoro drove home Walling on a ground out to second and Ava Sin put a ball in play to get Frankenberger across home plate shortly after.
Jocelynn De La Cruz and Kalyn Hill brought home another three runs in the seventh. Wilson began the rally with her third hit of the game via single to left before Kahwaty walked to bring De La Cruz up to the plate. The graduate student crushed the ball deep to left field for an RBI and putting Kahwaty and herself in scoring position for Hill. Kalyn Hill continued to come through in the clutch, pushing a single into left center field for two RBIs and putting the Redhawks ahead by six.
T7 | Joce with the gapper to extend the lead!
— Seattle U Softball ?? (@seattleusb) May 6, 2023
SU 5
CBU 1 pic.twitter.com/6nxHst3TlT
Grace Luderer picked up her 10th win of the season in this contest, throwing a complete game with just three earned runs and four strikeouts. Luderer pitched well under press all game, keeping the Lancers scoreless in the first two innings and holding them to just one run through six innings. Seattle U played great defensive all game long, highlighted by a diving play from Kahwaty to tag a runner out heading back to second base in the fifth inning.
B5 | What a play by Maddie to make it a double play!
— Seattle U Softball ?? (@seattleusb) May 6, 2023
SU 4
CBU 1 pic.twitter.com/WxKVxpM4H9
GAME TWO SCORING SUMMARY
- First Inning: Olivia Viggiano scored the opening run on an error. Madison Kahwaty singled to left field, doubling the lead.
- Third Inning: CBU scored one run on a double.
- Fourth Inning: Mekenzie Madokoro grounded out to second, driving in a run. Ava Sin reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring a run.
- Seventh Inning: Jocelynn De La Cruz doubled to left field for an RBI. Kalyn Hill singled to left center field for two RBIs. The Lancers scored two runs on four hits.
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