Utah Tech saw its NCAA Division I postseason debut spoiled by stout Seattle U pitching and defense as the top-seeded Trailblazers were blanked by the No. 4-seed Redhawks, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the GCU Softball Stadium.
 
With the loss, Utah Tech (34-17) drops down to the loser's bracket and will face No. 7 seed UT Arlington in an elimination game on Thursday night at 8 p.m. (MT). Meanwhile Seattle U (35-18) will advance on to face No. 2 seed Grand Canyon in the winner's bracket semifinal game on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. (MT).
 
Seattle U jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a two-out, two-run double from Mekenzie Madokoro. The Redhawks later tacked on another run the third, taking advantage of a lead-off Trailblazer error to plate an insurance run on a wild pitch.
 
Meanwhile the WAC's top offense was stifled by Redhawk starter Stefanie Madrigal (W, 18-9), who retired nine of the first 10 Blazer hitters she faced through the first three innings, and limited Utah Tech to five total hits on the day.
 
Madrigal defense also played big behind her, including turning two back-breaking double plays in the fourth and sixth innings, including Madrigal starting a 1-6-3 twin killing to end the sixth, while the SU outfield managed to track down several possible Trailblazer base hits. 
 
The top three in the Utah Tech order – Tanya Windle, Hannah Hughbanks and Shea Clements, each collected singles, while Oaklee Trapp and Laura Lockard accounted for the other two Blazer safeties. Kate Dolinski (L, 12-5) was saddled with the hard-luck loss despite surrendering only two earned runs and five hits with two strikeouts in seven innings compete.