“The team played much better today, despite two losses,” said head coach Dan Powers. “We battled in the first game versus Iowa and had our chances to win. Against ASU, we ran into a very good team that punished every mistake our pitchers made. The girls kept their heads up and played hard all day.”
Versus Iowa, Seattle U put together their best performance of the season. After a two run first inning by the Hawkeyes, SU responded immediately with a pair of runs to even the game in the top of the second. Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) led the inning off with a double, which she was advanced on a wild pitch during Karina Smyth’s (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) at bat. Smyth would steal second and Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) followed with a single to right field to bring home Ulrich. With two outs, Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) hit an infield single to send home Symth and even the score.
In the top of the third the Redhawk offense remained hot. Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.) opened things with a walk and was advanced on a Jessica Amador (Whittier, Calif.) single to third. Both runners were advanced on an Ulrich bunt, to load the bases. The following two Redhawk batters attempted to send runs home, but both Clark and Amador were called out on fielder’s choice plays. With a pair of outs, Petosa came up and slammed a double to left center to bring home Ulrich and Symth. Wilde would tally her second and third RBIs of the game in the next at bat, as she singled to right center to bring home another pair of runs. Seattle U made it a five run inning, behind Kelli Demianew’s (Pendleton, Ore.) RBI single up the middle.
Up 7-2, the Redhawks defense did not preserve their lead well. Seattle U allowed Iowa to score four runs to make it a one run game heading into the fourth inning.
With a one run advantage, SU was unable to add any additional runs in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the inning, Seattle U got the leadoff hitter out with a routine infield play. The second batter Katie Keim hit a one out single to right field and Chelsey Carmody guided Iowa to victory with a home run to left field.
The Redhawks were unable to respond offensively to conclude the game and fell 8-7.
In Seattle U’s final game of the day, they faced off with the No. 9/12 Arizona State Sun Devils. An experienced ASU lineup managed to take off offensively and stymie the Redhawk offensive efforts. The Sun Devils jumped out early with an early offensive momentum behind a series of long balls to hand SU a 10-0 five inning loss.
The Redhawks will look to bounce back on Saturday. They open the day with PCSC rival Idaho State in a 9:30 a.m. MT game and close day two action with Illinois State in a 12 noon MT contest.