Thanks to the efforts of the top of the batting order and multiple runs in the sixth inning of each game, the Seattle University softball team was able to snap out of its slump, crossing into Canada and sweeping Simon Fraser University, 7-4 and 7-5, Saturday afternoon at North Delta Community Park.
After Simon Fraser scored the first run of the first game, took the lead in the third inning when Katie Petersen (, ) singled and drove in Cassie Cueto (, ) and Katie Antich (). With two out in the sixth inning, SeattleU started a rally as Lauren Berin (Lacey, ) singled to score pinch runner Lauren Carlson (), with Jessica Amador (Whittier, Calif.) also scoring on a fielding error.
Sandra Hernandez (, ) singled to score Berin, and she came home thanks to the first career triple for shortstop Peggy Mathison (). Mathison scored the fifth run of the inning on a double by Cueto to give SeattleU a 7-1 lead. Simon Fraser closed the gap to 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a bases-clearing double by Meaghan Cumpstone, but SeattleU starter Kelsey Reynolds () set down the next four batters in order to close out the victory.
The second game commenced with early fireworks, as Petersen singled, stole second base, and scored on a single by Lisa Hill () to give SeattleU a 1-0 lead. Cumpstone hit a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the first to give the Clan a 2-1 lead, but the Redhawks came right back, as Hernandez singled and eventually scored on a Petersen single to tie the game, 2-2.
Carly Moir tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly as Simon Fraser retook the lead, but SeattleU went ahead for good in the third inning as Hill walked and Berin followed with her fourth home run of the season to put the Redhawks on top, 4-3. Once again, all was quiet until the sixth inning, as SeattleU loaded the bases with two outs, followed by an RBI single by Carlson and a two-run double from Berin to extend the visitors’ advantage to 7-3.
Simon Fraser (16-9) again responded in the bottom of the sixth inning, as two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Haley Cicchetti singled to drive in Megan Durrant and Kelsey Haberl scored on a wild pitch, but two successful putouts at the plate and a fly out to Antich in right field ended the Clan’s threat. SeattleU pitcher Hannah Klein () was able to overcome a leadoff double in the seventh to pick up her sixth victory of the season.
Berin finished the day 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five runs batted in, while Antich went 5-for-8 with two runs scored and three stolen bases and Petersen hit 4-for-8 with two runs scored, three runs batted in, and three stolen bases. Cueto finished the day with three hits and two stolen bases, and Hernandez and Jamie Foote () earned a hit in each game as SeattleU finished the day with 24 hits total.
(10-15) returns home for a doubleheader Monday, April 6, against beginning at 1 p.m. at Logan Field. The team then heads to , , for a four-game series against future conference opponent next weekend before playing the final two home dates of the 2009 season.