Jumping out to early leads in both games and receiving solid pitching performances, the 18th-ranked Seattle University softball team opened the 2008 season with a 5-4 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills and a 4-0 win over #10 Cal State Stanislaus Friday afternoon at the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational at Pedretti Park
After waiting over two hours due to weather, jumped on top of Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first inning. Singles by Katie Petersen (, ), Megan MacIsaac (, ), and Jane Purdy () loaded the bases, and Lauren Berin (Lacey, Wash.) drove in the first run of the season with her own single. Brenda Stice (, ) was hit by a pitch, forcing in MacIsaac with the second run, and Purdy scored on a single by Jessica Amador ().
added runs in the fourth inning as Purdy hit a single to center field that scored Amador and Cassie Cueto (). Senior pitcher Erin Martin () cruised through the first six innings, giving up only two hits and a walk, before CSU Dominguez Hills struck for four runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners at first and second and one out, Martin picked up a strikeout and then induced a grounder to Jaime Foote (Lynnwood, Wash.) to end the game in Seattle’s favor.
Against the host school, again scored first, as Foote walked and Heather Hansen () doubled to put runners on second and third. Sandra Hernandez () drove in Foote with a single to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, Kelsey Reynolds () shut down the Warriors, giving up only three hits and a walk through the first five innings.
broke the game open in the fifth inning, as Amador walked and Hernandez and Cueto singled to load the bases. Petersen drove in pinch runner Katie Antich (, ), and after two outs, Foote singled to score Cueto and Petersen and extend ’s lead to 4-0. Reynolds allowed runners on first and second base in each of the last two innings, but she induced ground outs both times to preserve the shutout.
Hernandez went 3-for-3 against CSU Stanislaus, while Purdy and MacIsaac each earned two hits in the first game. did not commit an error in either game, an excellent achievement especially considering the fact that the team had little time to practice outside before the start of the season.
Seattle University (2-0) will continue play in the Best of the West Invitational Saturday, facing Cal State Monterey Bay at 10:15 a.m. and Davis & Elkins College at 2:30 p.m.