SEATTLE - Seattle U softball begins the 2024 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season with its home opening series this weekend, hosting 2023 WAC Regular Season & Tournament Champion, Grand Canyon, in three contest over two days. All three contests will take place at Logan Field on the campus of Seattle U, with a doubleheader on Friday and a single contest on Saturday. The contests will be streamed live on ESPN+ and include live stats.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Friday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m.
- Seattle U (8-15) vs. Grand Canyon (20-6)
- Logan Field
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Friday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m.
- Seattle U vs. Grand Canyon
- Logan Field
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
- Saturday, March 16 at 12:00 p.m.
- Seattle U vs. Grand Canyon
- Logan Field
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
RECENT PLAY
Karen Spadafora has been the best hitter at the plate over the last eight contests, posting a .455 average that included her first career home run in a neutral site contest with Miami (OH). Spadafora ended last week with two singles in three at bats against Portland State.
Sydney Frankenberger has done a solid job in the lead off spot, hitting .393 with 11 overall hits and seven runs scored. The outfielder has started each contest in centerfield this season, recording three hits and two RBI this past weekend against Portland State.
Jasmine Wehn has provided an impact since receiving some more at bats, playing in all of the Redhawks last eight contests. Wehn has marked six hits and two RBI in that span, while taking a five-game hitting streak into this weekend's series.
KJ Hopfer and Amanda Morris have both played well in limited action lately. Hopfer has marked three hits in six at bats with a double and two RBI, while Morris knocked three hits in seven at bats.
Avari Morris has been performing well in the circle, posting a 3.11 ERA over the Redhawks last eight contests. The freshman threw a complete game last week against Portland State in which she didn't allow an earned run and struck out six to give SU a chance at victory.
PRESEASON HONORS/PRESEASON POLL
Stefanie Madrigal and Tai Wilson were honored by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) this past week, with the former being named the Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year and the latter joining her on the All-WAC Preseason Team. The Redhawks have gone seven straight seasons with multiple players earning Preseason All-WAC honors and have had at least one athlete named for the last 11 years.
Madrigal became the first Redhawk to earn Preseason Co-Pitcher of the Year honors, marking her third consecutive season on the All-WAC Preseason Team. The native of San Jose, California, took another step forward during the 2023 season, leading the squad with the nation's 37th most wins at 19. Madrigal played some of her best softball on the biggest stage at the WAC Tournament, taking the ball in all five contests and allowing just one run in the first two.
Wilson earns the award for the first time after a breakout 2023 season in which she finished in the top-10 in batting average (.438), runs scored (23) and hits (35) during conference play in route to an All-WAC First Team award. The junior outfielder led the Redhawks with 72 hits (30th nationally), a batting average of .396 (54th nationally) and an on base percentage of .456 (142nd nationally). Wilson's overall hits total and batting average rank as the Redhawks' fourth and eighth best single-season performance.
Seattle U was picked to finish third as voted on by the 10 WAC coaches, receiving 66 points and one first place vote. The Redhawks have been picked to finish third overall or better in eight straight years.
NATIONAL AND CONFERENCE RANKINGS
Team batting average (.294) - #74 in the nation and third in the WAC
Team fielding percentage (.963) - fourth in the WAC
On base percentage (.358) - second in the WAC
Team walks drawn (50) - third in the WAC
Caught stealing by (four) - Karen Spadafora, fourth in the WAC
Hits (26) - Sydney Frankenberger, sixth in the WAC
Innings Pitched (47.0) - Stefanie Madrigal, seventh in the WAC
Victories (four) - Stefanie Madrigal, second in the WAC
Toughest to strikeout (18.0) - Sydney Frankenberger, #138 in the nation and fourth in the WAC
SERIES-AT-A-GLANCE
The Redhawks trail the all-time series with the Lopes, 11-21.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All 14 Seattle U home contests this season will be broadcast on ESPN+. For road games, related links to video stream and live stats will be posted on the softball schedule page on goseattleu.com. Fans are encouraged to check the Seattle U Softball team's official Twitter feed @seattleusb for updates of games in progress as well as news and notes. Greg Sexton and former Redhawk, Katie Favilla (Antich), mark their third season on the call.
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.