Stephen F. Austin, Seattle U Unbeaten After Day One Of 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament
Stephen F. Austin, Seattle U Unbeaten After Day One Of 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An action-packed first day of games saw Stephen F. Austin and Seattle U advance to the winners’ bracket on the opening day of the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament on Wednesday at the GCU Softball Stadium. No. 3 seed SFA downed No. 7 UT Arlington 6-5 in eight innings after UTA bounced No. 6 Sam Houston 2-1 in the first game of the tournament.
Joining SFA in the winner’s bracket was No. 4 Seattle, who bested No. 8 California Baptist 3-1 in the final game of the night. CBU knocked off No. 5 Tarleton 10-7 in eight innings earlier in the day to play on to the double-elimination round.
The second day of play at the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament will begin at 10 a.m. MST on Thursday with No. 2 Grand Canyon taking on No. 3 SFA. No. 1 seed Utah Tech and No. 4 Seattle U will meet at 1 p.m. MST to determine who advances on in the winners’ bracket.
Game 1 – No. 7 UTA 2, No. 6 Sam Houston 1 | Box Score
Meagan Smith drove in a pair of runs in the opener for UTA, putting the Mavericks on the board in the first inning and giving the team the lead back in the top of the fifth frame. Marley Neises ripped two base hits for UTA and Reagan Hukill and Alaina Hampton each came across to score. Jessica Adams spun a complete game four-hitter for UTA in the win over Sam Houston, allowing a lone earned run and no walks with two strikeouts on 71 pitches.
Brodie Quinlan logged the tying RBI for Sam Houston in the bottom of the fourth frame, one four Bearkats with a base hit on the day. Emma Guindon also went the distance in the circle, allowing eight hits, two earned runs and surrendering three walks with two punchouts on 125 pitches.
Game 2 – No. 8 California Baptist 10, No. 5 Tarleton 7 (8 innings) | Box Score
CBU raced out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first against Tarleton, but the Texans roared back with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. The teams scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth innings to send the game to extras at 7-7. A Sydney Soto RBI single up the middle in the top of the eighth provided the winning CBU run, and two insurance runs provided the final winning tally. Soto was one of three CBU players to score two runs in the win, as Alissa Montes De Oca and Valerie Alvarez finished with three RBI apiece.
Jordan Dickerson’s grand slam in the third inning and five total RBI led the way in the game for Tarleton. Kayla Wallace ripped a team-high three base hits and scored twice in the setback for the Texans.
Game 3 – No. 3 Stephen F. Austin 6, No. 7 UTA 5 (8 innings) | Box Score
Stephen F. Austin battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs to square the score. UTA leapt in front 5-3 heading to the home half of the seventh inning when Lexi Benson clubbed a two-run home run to send the game to extra innings at 5-5. Gaby Garcia picked up her third hit of the day with an RBI double in the eighth for the SFA win.
Garcia and Camryn Middlebrook led SFA with three hits each, with Middlebrook and Benson each driving in two runs. Brooke Gainous went the distance and threw 121 pitches over eight innings to pick up the victory.
Sophie Wideman turned in a 3-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI for UTA in the loss, while Reagan Hukill, Kimber Cortemelia and Alaina Hampton each added two hits for the Mavericks.
Game 4 – No. 4 Seattle U 3, No. 8 California Baptist 1 | Box Score
An RBI single for CBU in the top of the third and carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning. Seattle U responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, with a Madison Kahwaty two-run single doing the damage. Sydney Frankenberger, Mekenzie Madokoro and Olivia Viggiano each ripped two base hits. Stefanie Madrigal spun a 4-hit complete game with no walks issued on fewer than 60 pitches in the Seattle U.
Carly Limosnero went the distance in the defeat for CBU, walking one with four strikeouts.
--WAC--