The offense of the Seattle University softball team finally kicked into gear with eight runs in the first three innings, but a scrappy Cal State San Bernardino team never gave up, coming back to earn the 10-8 victory Friday afternoon at HSU Softball Field, eliminating the Redhawks from the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament.
Seattle University chased Coyote starter Jackie Jacob from the game in the first inning as the first five batters earned three hits and two walks, including a two-run double from Sandra Hernandez (Redlands, Calif.). Cassidy Lee came on and gave up a single to Jamie Foote () that scored Lauren Berin (Lacey, Wash.), but after a walk to Jessica Amador (Whittier, Calif.) loaded the bases with one out, Lee induced a groundout and a pop-up to end the inning.
Cal State San Bernardino (36-31-1) answered with two runs on five singles in the second inning, but the Redhawks increased their lead in the bottom of the inning, again loading the bases on two singles and a walk. With Debbie Shisler now in the pitching circle, Brenda Stice () drove in Berin with a single, and Amador followed with a hit off the glove of diving second baseman Jamie Lowe that scored Hernandez and Foote.
In the third inning, Jane Purdy () hit her second home run in as many days, a shot over the fence in right-center field to give SeattleU an 8-2 lead. Berin followed with a double and Foote hit a two-out single to right field, but pinch runner Katie Petersen () was thrown out trying to score, and the Redhawks earned only one more hit in the final four innings.
The Coyotes started their comeback with two outs in the fourth inning, as Priscilla Curiel hit a single with the bases loaded that scored two runs, followed by a single by Nicole Camarena that scored pinch runner Joleen Batista and a Redhawk fielding error that allowed Curiel to score the fourth run of the inning and bring Cal State San Bernardino within two at 8-6.
In the seventh inning, Tori Beaudette walked, but was still at first base with two outs. Tayler Wilson singled up the middle, and Shisler followed with a bunt single that stayed close to the plate. Jordan Dahl hit a single to center field that scored Beaudette and Wilson to tie the game. Lowe then launched a shot to right-center field that bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, scoring Shisler and Dahl to give the Coyotes the lead.
Tawni Baker, the Coyotes’ fourth pitcher of the game, set down the Redhawks in order to end the game, finishing 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief to earn the victory. Erin Martin () took the loss, giving up 15 hits and 10 runs, nine of them earned, while walking two and striking out three batters.
Despite the loss, Seattle University still posted its best record in program history with the most wins in a season (38) as well as the fewest losses (14) for a .731 winning percentage. Seven single-season records were set, and the Redhawks earned a share of the GNAC title with an 18-6 conference record, their first-ever conference title. With 16 of the 19 active players, plus a redshirt and a couple of newcomers, eligible to return for the 2009 season, the softball program is in solid shape as it begins the transition process to Division I.