"We lost two tough games today, but overall we played well for our first time out this season," said head coach Dan Powers. "We just need to execute better on defense and come up with some clutch hits with runners on."
Versus Northern Colorado
L 8-7
In their opening contest of the 2010 campaign, the Redhawks took on new divisional rival the University of Northern Colorado. After two scoreless innings, SeattleU broke onto the board with three runs. Katie Peterson kicked off the inning with a single to left field. She was able to advance on Katie Antich's fly, to steal second. Megan MacIssac came to the plate with one out and was walked, to have Redhawk runners on first and second. Lauren Berin advanced the runners and loaded the bases with her walk. With the bases loaded and one out, Jessica Amador knocked the ball into left field to break SU onto the board and bring Peterson home. Hannah Klein followed with a single to right to send home MacIssac and Berin, and to send SU into the bottom of the third with a 3-0 lead.
SeattleU extended their lead the following inning behind a third Klein RBI. The pitcher was hit by a pitch, which sent home Antich from third. The Redhawks had the bases loaded at that point, but were unable to translate that into additional runs.
The Bears' offense took off in the bottom of the fourth, as they were able to tie the score at four behind a SU fielding error and a Noel Wees home run.
A fighting SU squad reestablished their lead in the fifth, as Sandra Hernandez hit the team's first long ball of the season. Her home run sailed over the left field fence to give SeattleU a 5-4 lead. The Redhawks were able to get out of the two-hit inning they allowed UNC in the bottom of the fifth, to preserve their slight advantage.
In the sixth they added to their lead with their second home run of the season. MacIssac led off the inning and blasted her ball over the right center fence. Despite starting off the inning strong, SU left two runners on base and were unable to garner additional insurance runs.
With only a two run lead, Northern Colorado's offense once again was ignited, as they scored four runs to take an 8-6 advantage in the bottom half of the sixth. They capitalized on hittable pitches and Redhawk errors to take the lead.
In a last ditch effort, SU's Peterson singled to second and eventually was sent home for SeattleU's seventh run off a Berin RBI single to left field. With one out and a chance to tie the game, Amador popped out to third and Kelsey Reynolds concluded the game with an infield fly.
At Brigham Young
L - 3-2
Following their early heartbreaker, the Redhawks looked to split results on the day with Brigham Young. Despite strong defensive efforts from SeattleU, they were unable to successfully combat the Cougars, as they fell 3-2.
SU kept BYU scoreless for the first four innings of play, but during that time their offense was unable to take advantage and get on the board, as well. After four scoreless innings for both squads, the Cougars broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. They followed in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Andrea Ramirez.
Down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, SeattleU began their come-from-behind run. With an out on the board, Peterson singled to center field to begin SU's offensive efforts. MacIssac followed with a strikeout, but it was freshman Jessica Ulrich who worked to keep the inning alive. She slammed in her first career home run over the center field wall to send home Peterson and make it a 3-2 game. With two outs, Klein went up to bat, but her contact sent the ball straight to the Cougars' shortstop to conclude the game.
SU will look to get in the win column on Saturday, Feb. 13, when they take on San Jose State at 12:30 p.m. PT and close out the day with Utah at 3 p.m. PT.