SEATTLE - Seattle U softball opens the 2023 home schedule this weekend, hosting six games over the course of four days at Logan Field.
The Redhawks will host Montana and UNLV in the Seattle U Invite from Friday to Sunday, facing off with Montana three times and UNLV twice. All five games will feature streaming on WAC International and have live stats available. The last time the Redhawks hosted the Seattle U Invitational was back in 2019 when North Dakota, Northern Illinois and Portland State all made the trip to Seattle.
A matchup with #21 Oregon is set for Monday, with first pitch airing live on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. This marks the first time a ranked team has visited Logan Field since the Redhawks faced off with #18 Washington on April 15, 2015.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Monday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
- Seattle U vs. #21 Oregon (16-4)
- ESPN+
- Live Stats
ON A ROLL
The Redhawks added three more wins over the weekend, improving to 15-5 on the season which is the program's best start through 20 games in their Division I history. Seattle U claimed its first victory of the weekend with its third straight win over Fresno State, 9-4. Graduate student Jocelynn De La Cruz and senior Madison Kahwaty combined for seven RBis, while senior Izzy Dino held the Bulldogs to just one run over five innings.
After falling to LMU in the final game on Saturday, the Redhawks bounced back with two straight over San Jose State (6-0) and Minnesota (9-6). Senior Stefanie Madrigal would shut out the Spartans in the first game of the day, scattering four hits and striking out three in a complete game. De La Cruz marked her third home run of the weekend, while Kahwaty and junior Sydney Frankenberger both had multi-hit games.
The Redhawks concluded the weekend with a eight run, seventh-inning comeback victory over Minnesota, marking the second time SU has taken down a Power Five school this season. Dino kept the game close with her phenomenal work in the circle, sending the Gophers down in order in the fifth and pitching out of a jam in the sixth. De La Cruz capped off her stellar weekend with what proved to be the game-winning runs, crushing a grand slam to send the Redhawks home happy.
Seattle U's previous best 20 game opening stretch came during SU's DII days, beginning the season 18-2 in 2008.
WAC HITTER OF THE WEEK
Graduate student Jocelynn De La Cruz earned her first career WAC Hitter of the Week award after her fantastic performance at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California. The Menifee, California, native was phenomenal at the plate this past 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.
De La Cruz has been one of the Redhawks best hitters so far, leading the team in average (.459), OPS (1.317), hits (28), home runs (six) and RBIs (27). The first baseman also leads the Redhawks in multi-hit games (nine) and multiple RBI games (eight).
BASES REACHED STREAK
Both Sydney Frankenberger and Madison Kahwaty are doing a great job of getting on base, reaching base in 15 and 10 straight games, respectively.
After opening the season slow in the first tournament, Frankenberger is really starting to find her groove. The native of San Ramon, California ranks second on the team in average (.377) with three doubles and a home run. Frankenberger was one of the Redhawks top hitters at the Judi Garman Classic, going 6-for-15 (.400) with three RBIs. The outfielder also enjoyed success at the Hawaii Invitational and the Fresno State Kickoff Classic, going 8-for-17 with eight RBis in Hawaii and earning All-Tournament honors in Fresno with a walk off double against Iowa State.
Kahwaty has been a consistent presence in the Redhawks lineup, starting every game at shortstop and hitting third in the order. The Livermore, California, native ranks first on the team in doubles, second in OPS (1.036) and RBIs (18) and third in average (.350), among qualified hitters. Kahwaty is currently second on the squad in multi-RBI games (four) and tied for second in home runs (three) and multi-hit games (six). The Preseason All-WAC selection went 6-for-15 (.400) at the Judi Garman Classic, with two doubles, five RBIs and three walks.
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