After their forgettable loss to BYU, where offensive production was low and the Cougars outhit the Redhawks 16 to 3, Seattle U picked things up to cap off their weekend in Las Vegas.
"The wind was blowing out to left field today," said head coach Dan Powers. "Jessica (Amador) and Theresa (Clark) hit towering home runs, and Allegra (Wilde) had a line drive home run. Jessica (Ulrich) pitched well, despite the tough conditions. It was a great win for our team as we head into conference play."
Things kicked off early for the Redhawks, as they put up a pair of runs in the top of the first. With a runner on second and no outs, Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) doubled to left field to score SU's first run. Hannah Klein (Camarillo, Calif.) followed with a single to left field, advancing Wilde to third. Klein would steal second, putting runners on second and third. With one out, Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.), who started in the outfield, sent a sacrifice fly to left field to score Wilde and give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) held UNLV's batters at bay during the bottom half of the inning, while the offensive output continued at the plate.
With a pair of outs and the bases loaded, Clark came to the plate. She doubled to left field, bringing home a pair of runs to keep the inning alive. Karina Smyth (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) followed, reaching on a UNLV fielding error and sending home SU's third run of the inning. Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) made it back-to-back scoring opportunities for the Redhawks, as she singled to center field to score Clark from second. With runners on the corners, Jessica Amador (Whittier, Calif.) slammed her first home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a seven-run Redhawk second inning.
SU continued to play aggressively at the plate in the third inning. Seattle U quickly loaded the bases and had one out when Clark came to bat. The sophomore saw a perfect pitch and hit her first career grand slam over the left field wall to give the Redhawks a 13-0 lead.
Clark was 2-for-3, with seven RBIs, two runs and a home run in the game.
In the top of the third, UNLV managed to score four runs to break up Ulrich's shutout. Despite giving up multiple runs, the Redhawks did not lose their momentum.
The fourth inning saw two quick runs from the Redhawks. After a leadoff out, Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) was hit by a pitch. In the third spot, Wilde came to the plate and hit a two RBI home run to left field. It was the sophomore shortstop's first home run of the season and her homer gave the Redhawks a 15-4 lead. She finished the day going 3-for-5, with three runs and three RBIs.
The Rebels continued to try to rally back in the bottom of the fourth and cut down Seattle U's double figure run lead. UNLV tallied three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 15-7 contest heading into the fifth.
In the top of the fifth, Guerrero led off with a double to center field and was advanced on Amador's ground out to shortstop. Katie Gould (Medford, Ore.) followed by singling to third base and stealing second. With runners on second and third, Petosa came to the plate and hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Guerrero and making it a 16-7 game.
Petosa was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring four runs and an RBI.
In the bottom of the fifth, UNLV added a final run to cut the Redhawks lead to eight. Despite their last ditch effort, it was enough and the Redhawks earned the five inning victory.
Ulrich earned her first win in the circle over the Rebels, as SU outhit UNLV 18 to 11.
Seattle U will open up PCSC play this weekend at home, with a four-game series versus Weber State from Saturday, Apr. 9 to Sunday, Apr. 10. First pitch is 12 noon on both days.