"Today our defense worked hard and our offense stayed in it to help us get the pair of wins," said head coach Dan Powers. "After going down in the early game, Megan's grand slam really helped ignite us. In the second game we were sound on both offense and defense. We also were able to keep innings alive with several two out hits to help us earn victories in both games."
In the early game, Northern Colorado's early offense dominated the game. In the top of the second they tallied three runs, one of which was scored on a SU defensive error. The Bears added a fourth run in the top of the third, to take an early 4-0 lead.
After their offense was quiet in the first two innings, the Redhawks found their rhythm in the bottom of the third. With one out, Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) doubled to right field. Katie Gould (Medford, Ore.) followed with a single to center field, to advance Wilde to third. Katie Antich (Spokane, Wash.) loaded the bases by reaching first on a Northern Colorado error. With the bases loaded, MacIsaac came to the plate. The current PCSC Player of the Week slammed her hit well over the center field wall for a grand slam. It also evened the score at 4-4 and gave Seattle U the much needed confidence boost they were looking for.
From that point forward, SU played composed ball. In the top of the fourth, Sandra Hernandez (Redlands, Calif.) hit her seventh home run of the season with her lead off long ball to center field.
The Redhawks sealed their victory was an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Gould led off the inning with a single to center field. Antich advanced Gould to second with her own single to center field, which led to a UNC pitching change. MacIsaac loaded the bases with a single to right field. Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.) sent in SU's final run of the game with her sacrifice fly to center field.
Starting pitcher Kelsey Reynolds (Kent, Wash.) threw 3.0 innings and tallied a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Hannah Klein (Camarillo, Calif.), who pitched 4.0 relief innings, earned her fourth win of the season. In 15 batters faced, she allowed only three hits, while striking out two.
Following their come-from-behind victory, SU's defense played sound softball in the second game. In the bottom of the third, Wilde led off with a single to center field. Gould then singled to left field and Antich loaded the bases after being walked. With one out, Clark popped out to second base, but Wilde was able to score on the play due to a passed ball to UNC's catcher Erin Wilkinson.
Seattle U added to their lead the next inning. Pitcher Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) led off inning with a walk and was advanced on Jessica Amador's (Whittier, Calif.) ground out. Ulrich was then sent to third on Katie Petersen's (Mission Viejo, Calif.) ground out to first base. Wilde sent Ulrich home with her RBI single down the right field line.
In their next offensive opportunity, in the bottom of the fifth, SU continued to add to their growing lead. With one out, Clark doubled to center field. The next batter, Hernandez, scored Clark with a single to center field. Rose Harrington (Missoula, Mont.) then came in and pitch ran for Hernandez. The freshman stole second and was advanced to third on a throwing error by the Bears' Wilkinson. Ulrich then came up and doubled down the left line to score Harrington. Amador followed by reaching on an error by Northern Colorado's second baseman. Petersen then struck out looking, but a misplay with the ball allowed both runners to steal and Ulrich came home to score the Redhawks fifth run of the game.
Two innings later, the Bears' offense attempted a late run. Kailee Vessey led off the inning with a triple to right field and was scored on Melisa Ryba's sacrifice fly to left field. After snapping SU's chance at a shutout, Ulrich quickly got out of the inning with a pair of ground outs.
Ulrich, who was solid both on offense and defense, was 1-for-2 with two runs, and RBI and a walk. On the mound, she earned her third win of the year. In seven full innings in the circle, she threw three strikeouts and scattered a pair of hits in 25 batters faced.
The Redhawks tallied 16 hits to the Bears 10, to help guide them to the sweep on the day. SU will look to gain the series sweep on Sunday, May 2. They will take on Northern Colorado in a second doubleheader, with first pitch at 11 a.m. Prior to the early game, they will honor the graduating senior class in their annual Senior Day ceremony.