Pitcher Erin Martin () gave up only two hits in 11 innings of work and the Seattle University offense struck for 24 hits and 17 runs as the SU softball team took the lead in the GNAC standings with a doubleheader sweep over Saint Martin’s, 8-0 and 9-3, Friday afternoon at the SMU Softball Field.
Martin started the first game and earned her fifth shutout of the season, allowing only an infield single by Holly Morris in the second inning before retiring the final 15 Saint batters in order. She struck out five batters without walking anybody as only two balls hit by Saint Martin’s left the infield, both flyouts to Katie Antich () in center field.
Offensively, Antich went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, while Jane Purdy () was 4-for-4, including her first home run of the season in the fourth inning. Jamie Foote () also drove in two runs in the first game on a single in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Seattle University scored its eighth run on a passed ball with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, with Martin setting down the side in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via the eight-run mercy rule.
In the second game, ’s (15-22, 3-7 GNAC) took the early lead, as Morris doubled to drive in Danni Ballard and Lisa Holombo hit a two-out double to score Kristine Kaneshiro and Morris. Starter Kelsey Reynolds (Kent, Wash.) got through the second inning, but after a fielding error, a wild pitch, and a walk put runners on first and second in the third inning, Martin relieved Reynolds and proceeded to set down 15 of the final 16 Saint hitters to earn her 17th victory of the season.
immediately came back in the top of the second, as Foote hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right-center field. With two outs in the inning, Antich dropped a double down the left field line, scoring Kaha Weir () and tying the game 3-3.
The Redhawks took the lead for good in the third inning as Megan MacIsaac () doubled and scored on Lauren Berin’s (Lacey, Wash.) single. Purdy would later single to score Berin. The score would remain 5-3 until the sixth inning, when broke the game open with four runs, the last two coming on a single to right field by Foote.
In the second game, the 3-4-5-6 hitters (MacIsaac, Berin, Foote, Purdy) combined for nine hits, five runs scored, and eight runs batted in. MacIsaac did not earn a hit in the first game of the doubleheader, snapping her school-record 16-game hitting streak.
(26-6-1, 8-2 GNAC) hosts in a key GNAC doubleheader Saturday, April 12, beginning at 12 noon at Logan Field. Western Oregon is now 16-14 overall and 5-5 in the conference after splitting a doubleheader with Western Washington Friday afternoon in .