Seattle U Women Earn History-Making Softball Title, On to NCAA Tourney

Seattle University softball won its first-ever Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Championship Saturday at Grand Canyon University. Carley Nance earned tournament MVP honors after a fantastic week that included a terrific effort for the win in Saturday’s final.

Seattle U (39-15) has qualified for its first-ever NCAA Tournament and will await its fate at Sunday’s selection show. The Redhawks have punched their ticket to the 64-team tournament that will begin next weekend.

“I want to thank everyone who supports this program," said Head Coach Geoff Hirai. "This championship goes out to all the previous players that played in this program. This is a special team that embodies everything we want this program to be about. We’re excited to see where we play next.”

Nance won tournament MVP, while Kaylee Ree and Cherise Silvan were both picked all-tournament.

In the first inning, Olivia Viggiano singled to lead off the game. Ally Choate moved her ahead with a sacrifice bunt. Madison Cathcart followed with an RBI double to right and Bailey Thompson doubled in Cathcart with a shot to left for a 2-0 advantage.

Nance rolled for much of the day, holding the Aggies hitless into the fifth inning. She claimed seven strikeouts, retiring nine straight batters in the middle of the game.

Viggiano singled and Cathcart brought her in with another RBI double in the fifth, making it 3-0 Redhawks. NM State answered with two runs in the sixth, but Nance induced a foulout to second to end the frame. She pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the victory.

Nance pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and no earned runs. She struck out seven. Cathcart went 2-2 with two RBIs, a run, and a walk. Viggiano tallied two hits and two runs.

With the win, SU breaks the single-season program record for victories with 39.