With Seattle U down 7-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Doug Buser (Orinda, Calif.) led off with a double, followed by an infield single from Bryndon Ecklund (Elma, Wash.) and a walk drawn by Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) to load the bases. Kalalau hit the first pitch he saw far over the left field fence for a grand slam home run, becoming the first Seattle U player to hit two home runs in a game this season.
The Redhawk lead did not last long as Cole Norton led off the top of the eighth inning with a double, advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Chris Murphy to tie the game 8-8.
Seattle University had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Buser was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on an Ecklund sacrifice bunt. On a flyout to left field by Hendrickson, Buser reached third base, but inexplicably took off for home after seeing Markus Melgosa overthrow third baseman Troy Channing, but pitcher Taylor Reid backed up the play, caught the ball, and tagged out Buser to end the scoring threat.
Patrick Wisdom led off the ninth inning by drawing a walk off reliever Bryan Dalton (Vancouver, Wash.). After two groundouts, Melgosa laced a double down the left field line to drive in Wisdom, and he would score on a double by Toby DeMello to give the Gaels a 10-8 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) drew a one-out walk, and Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) sent a shot into the right-center field gap for a single. Donald Collins misplayed the ball, allowing Roberts to score and Kirbach to reach second base representing the tying run. Alex Schmarzo was able to pick up a strikeout and a groundout to end the game and earn his fifth save of the season.
Saint Mary's (17-28-1) struck first in the opening inning as Collins led off with a bunt single and advanced to second when Roberts' throw got away from Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.). He would advance to third on a sacrifice bunt and score on a groundout by Channing. The Gaels added three runs in the second inning on a bases-clearing triple by Collins with the bases loaded and two outs.
Seattle University would break through in the fourth inning on Kalalau's leadoff home run off the light pole in left field. After Channing hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, the Redhawks closed the gap in the bottom of the fifth, starting when Phil Parrish (Escalon, Calif.) reached on an error and Buser singled to center field. Kalalau earned his first triple of the year, driving in Parrish and Buser, and he would score on a single by Roberts to bring Seattle U within two runs at 6-4.
Brandon Kizer (Marysville, Wash.) started the game for Seattle University, allowing six hits, four walks, and seven runs, three of them earned, in five innings of work. Arlo Evasick (Port Ludlow, Wash.) gave up a walk before inducing a double play and a strikeout in the sixth inning, with Joey Pulitano (Lake Stevens, Wash.) pitching the next 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, a walk, and a run. Dalton took the loss after giving up two hits, a walk, and two runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Mark Anderson threw 117 pitches in a starting role for Saint Mary's, giving up 11 hits, four walks, and eight runs, five of them earned, in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out five batters. Reid was credited with the victory after allowing only one walk in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Kalalau finished the night 4-for-5 with three runs scored and seven runs batted in, needing only a double to hit for the cycle. Buser went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and Kirbach hit 3-for-5 in the game. However, the other six hitters in the lineup combined to go just 2-for-22 as the Redhawks left eight runners on base and hit into two double plays.
At the top of the Gael lineup, Collins went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three runs driven in, while Norton filled the bottom of the lineup more than adequately with a 2-for-2 effort, two runs scored, one RBI, and two walks. Melgosa and DeMello also picked up two hits apiece for Saint Mary's, with Melgosa scoring three times during the night.
Seattle University (9-38) will host Saint Mary's in the second game of the weekend series Saturday, May 22, at Courter Field on the campus of Bellevue College, a site change necessitated by high school playoffs taking place all day at Bannerwood Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with live stats and live audio available on GoSeattleU.com.