The Seattle University softball team took advantage of Central Washington pitching wildness to win game one, 10-4, but the Redhawks’ own defensive mistakes cost them the second game of the GNAC doubleheader as the Wildcats won game two, 7-6, Sunday afternoon at the CWU Softball Field..
Five consecutive Seattle University batters drew walks on Central Washington pitcher Linse Vlahovich in the first inning of the first game to give SeattleU an early 2-0 lead. After a pitching change, the Redhawks scored three more runs on two errors and a ground out, giving SeattleU five runs without a hit.
After the Wildcats scored one run in the bottom of the first, Seattle University increased its lead in the fourth inning, as Lauren Berin (Lacey, Wash.) singled to drive in Katie Antich (Spokane, Wash.), followed by a Jane Purdy (Missoula, Mont.) triple that plated Berin. In the fifth inning, Cassie Cueto () singled, stole second, and scored on Antich’s single to make the score 8-1 for SeattleU.
(8-12, 5-3 GNAC) responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, as the Wildcats loaded the bases and brought the runners in on a sacrifice fly and a single. added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a leadoff home run by Jessica Amador (, ) and an RBI single by Megan MacIsaac ().
Erin Martin (11-0) picked up her third win in as many days, scattering nine hits and striking out three batters without walking anybody. Antich finished 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, a run scored, and a run driven in, while Cueto had two hits and two runs scored and Purdy and Amador each earned two runs batted in during the game.
took the lead in game two, first scoring on an error, a ground out, and a wild pitch. With the bases loaded, Mallory Holtman doubled to left field to score two runs and give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead. started the comeback in the top of the third, as Cueto scored while MacIsaac was thrown out attempting to execute the double steal.
The Redhawks erupted in the top of the fifth inning, as Cueto and Antich hit back-to-back singles. As Antich stole second, the catcher’s throw got away, allowing Cueto to score. With the bases loaded, Berin hit a grounder that was misplayed by the first baseman, allowing Antich to score. Another Wildcat error scored MacIsaac, and a ground out to second base by Brenda Stice () scored both Sandra Hernandez (Redlands, Calif.) and Berin, giving SeattleU a 6-3 lead.
The Wildcats answered right back in the bottom of the fifth, as two singles, a walk, and a Redhawk error allowed Jackie Hawkins to score. With two outs and runners at first and third, Cami Halstead’s double to center field cleared the bases and tied the game, 6-6. Halstead advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another SeattleU fielding error, giving the lead. had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but Vlahovich induced a popup and a ground out to prevent them from scoring.
Kelsey Reynolds () took the loss for SeattleU, allowing eight hits, two walks, and three wild pitches, with only three of the seven runs she allowed earned. While her record fell to 7-3, Vlahovich’s record improved to 4-7 after allowing five hits and five walks but striking out nine Redhawk batters, including two in the seventh inning with a runner on base.
(18-3, 4-2 GNAC) is off until Thursday, March 27, when it faces Cal State San Bernardino in , the day before the start of the Mizuno Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. The next home date for the Redhawks is Sunday, April 6, when travels to Logan Field for a GNAC doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.