Seattle U took the lead in the first game of the day, as Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) led off the bottom of the first by reaching on an error, followed by a single by Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.). Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) launched a ball over the left field fence for his third home run of the season to give the Redhawks a 3-0 lead. In the second, Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) led off with a walk, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on a single by Michael Tevlin (Billings, Mont.) to increase the Seattle U lead to 4-0.
Sacramento State (8-19) loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, and Hunter Adrian put the Hornets on the board with a single to left-center field. Andrew Ayers followed with a two-run single to right field to bring Sacramento State within one, 4-3. An infield single by David Del Grande loaded the bases with two outs, but Seattle U starter Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) induced a flyout to end the threat.
In the top of the fourth, the Hornets tied the game as Blake Miller singled and scored on a double by Derrick Chung. Sacramento State took the lead in the fifth inning when Ayers reached on a fielding error and Justin Higley hit a home run over the right field fence. Seattle U pulled back into a tie in the bottom of the fifth when Jace Sloan's (Puyallup, Wash.) single up the middle drove in Kalalau and Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.).
Kalalau led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Somers (Sammamish, Wash.). With two outs, Sloan once again came through, sending a single into right field to score Kalalau and give the Redhawks a 7-6 advantage. Meanwhile, three innings of solid relief pitching from Eric Yardley (Richland, Wash.) and Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska) kept Seattle U in the lead heading into the top of the ninth.
Blaine Jones (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) started the ninth by walking Kirby Young and hitting Chung with a pitch. After a fielder's choice, Ayers walked to load the bases with one out. Higley followed with a double to left-center field, scoring Chung and Adrian to give the Hornets the lead. Sacramento State received some insurance when Del Grande's single to right field drove in Ayers and Higley. Brandon Creel set down the Redhawks in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first win of the season.
Sacramento State scored first in the second inning when Young walked, stole second base, and scored on a single by Brent Hottman. The Redhawks responded in the bottom of the third, as Sloan and Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) drew back-to-back walks and Dallas Chadwick's attempt to throw out Sloan at third base on Morales' sacrifice bunt attempt was off line. Oleszczuk drove in Sloan with a sacrifice fly, but a double play ended the threat.
Seattle U starter Brandon Kizer (Marysville, Wash.) settled down, not allowing another Sacramento State hit until the sixth inning. However, the Redhawks could not take advantage of Chadwick's control issues, hitting into four double plays in the first five innings as the Hornet freshman held Seattle U hitless in the first six innings.
Del Grande led off the top of the seventh inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hottman's double to right-center field scored Del Grande, and Will Soto followed with a single to right-center field that drove in Hottman and chased Kizer from the game.
After Kincaid led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and reached second base on a wild pitch, Kalalau broke up Chadwick's no-hit bid with a double down the left field line that drove in Kincaid. However, Chadwick was able to set down the next three batters in order, stranding Kalalau at third base and keeping the Hornets ahead of the Redhawks.
Seattle U had one final scoring chance in the ninth inning when Kincaid hit a one-out double to left-center field. However, he was thrown out at third base on a Kalalau ground ball to shortstop, and pinch hitter Josh Kutz (Seattle, Wash.) struck out to give Chadwick his first career complete game.
Kalalau finished the day 3-for-7 with three runs scored and four runs batted in, while Sloan went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three runs batted in during the afternoon. Del Grande led Sacramento State with four hits during the doubleheader, while Higley collected three hits, two runs scored, and four runs batted in during the day.
Seattle University (9-11) will look to snap its five-game losing streak Sunday, April 3, as the weekend series against Sacramento State concludes. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue, with the two teams scheduled to play a seven-inning game, followed by a nine-inning game with a time restriction to account for Sacramento State's travel plans.