A solid pitching performance and timely hitting led to a 5-2 victory in the first game, but the Seattle University softball team fell victim to a nine-run fifth inning by Simon Fraser in a 10-4 loss in the second contest, creating a doubleheader split Monday afternoon at Brandrith Park.
With one out in the second inning of the first game, Kate Zender (Enumclaw, Wash.) reached on an error, and Katie Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.) drew a walk. On a ground ball hit by Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.), Simon Fraser committed another error, allowing Zender to score and Wilde to reach second. A single by Katie Gould (Medford, Ore.) scored Wilde to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
Simon Fraser (17-13) scored one run in the third, but Seattle U pitcher Kelsey Reynolds (Kent, Wash.) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam by catching a line drive and forcing a groundout. The Clan scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to tie the game, but an RBI single by Hannah Klein (Camarillo, Calif.) after two Simon Fraser errors in the fifth inning gave the Redhawks the lead for good.
Seattle U added two insurance runs in the seventh inning when Katie Antich (Spokane, Wash.) doubled to left field, advanced to third, and scored on a single by Klein. A sacrifice fly by Sandra Hernandez (Redlands, Calif.) brought in Megan MacIsaac (Santa Barbara, Calif.) with the fifth and final run of the game. Seattle U won the game despite being outhit, 9-5, taking advantage of four Clan errors and three walks.
Reynolds earned her eighth victory of the season, scattering nine hits in pitching a complete game. Ashley Hadland took the loss for Simon Fraser, giving up five hits, three walks, and five runs, although only two of those runs were earned. Jessie Harris led the Clan offensively, going 4-for-4 with a run scored.
The second game started with Petersen notching an infield single, stealing second base, and scoring when Simon Fraser misplayed a single by Hernandez. In the fourth inning, Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.) singled, advanced to second on a groundout by Klein, reached third on another Clan error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gould.
A single by MacIsaac and walks drawn by Hernandez and Clark loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out. A single to center field by Rose Harrington (Missoula, Mont.) scored MacIsaac, and Hernandez was able to score when Simon Fraser committed yet another error. Meanwhile, Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.
In the bottom of the fifth, Simon Fraser struck for nine runs. Leah Riske drove in two runs with a double, while Carly Moir and Carly LePoutre each notched two-run singles during the inning. Ulrich was charged with six of the runs, while Reynolds came on in relief but could not end the inning before giving up three more runs.
The Redhawks earned only six hits, but left 10 runners on base thanks in part to five Clan errors as well as five walks. Nicola Collicutt was the only player in the game to earn more than one hit, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and a run batted in. Myriam Poirier came on in relief and earned the victory after pitching 2 2/3 innings, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out three batters.
Seattle University (16-28-1) will conclude its season with the final PCSC weekend series, heading south to face the Portland State Vikings in back-to-back doubleheaders, May 8-9, beginning at 12 noon each day. The Redhawks, at 11-5, are three games behind the 14-2 Vikings in the PCSC Mountain Division standings and need to sweep the weekend series in order to earn at least a tie of the regular season division title.