Down 7-2 heading into the sixth inning, Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) earned a one-out single up the middle, followed by walks drawn by Jace Sloan (Puyallup, Wash.) and Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.). After a Nevada pitching change, Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) sent a single past the shortstop that scored Kalalau and kept the bases loaded.
With two outs, Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) lined a double down the left-field line to drive in Sloan and Hendrickson. Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) followed with a fly ball towards the right field line that fell just in front of the Wolf Pack fielder, scoring Roberts and Morales with the game-tying runs.
Kalalau once again started things in the seventh inning with a one-out single and advanced to second on a groundout. Pinch hitter Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) laced a double into the right-center field gap to score Kalalau and give the Redhawks the lead. Seattle U had chances to increase the lead in both the eighth and ninth innings, but double plays ended each frame, keeping Nevada within striking distance.
Ewing came on in the third inning and shut down the Wolf Pack after the home team had scored seven runs, allowing just two hits in 3 1/3 innings of work, striking out two batters. Spink replaced Ewing in the sixth inning, pitching 3 1/3 innings of perfect ball with six strikeouts, striking out the side in the ninth inning to pick up his third victory of the season.
"It was great to see Evan come out of the bullpen and, along with Conor, give us a chance to come back. Our guys swung the bats when they needed to, giving us that big inning. Everyone contributed today, including Sean's game-winning hit," head coach Donny Harrel said. "I can't say enough about Evan's performance, and Conor dominated the rest of the way to help us get through those missed chances in the eighth and ninth."
Seattle U struck first in the top of the first inning as Oleszczuk led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Tevlin (Billings, Mont.). Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) launched a ball over the right field fence that everyone knew would be a home run as soon as it left the bat, giving the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
Nevada (8-17) struck back in the bottom of the first with one out when Joe Kohan reached on an infield single and Brock Stassi doubled to center field. Brian Barnett's fly ball sailed over Kalalau's head in right field for a triple, scoring Kohan and Stassi, and Barnett scored on a groundout by Garrett Yrigoyen to pull the Wolf Pack ahead, 3-2.
The home team continued the offensive production in the second inning when Nick Melino drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by Kohan. Kohan traded places with Stassi, as the Nevada first baseman laced his second double of the game to drive in Kohan and extend the Wolf Pack lead to 5-2.
In the bottom of the third inning, Yrigoyen was hit by a pitch, stole second, and came around to score when Tevlin's attempt to throw him out on a sacrifice bunt sailed into the outfield. With the bases loaded, Melino drove in Curtis Frisbie with a sacrifice fly to lengthen Nevada's lead to 7-2.
Kalalau finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Oleszczuk and Kincaid each earned two hits and two runs batted in. Stassi led Nevada with a 3-for-5 performance, and Kohan collected two hits during the game for the Wolf Pack.
Seattle University (12-12) has two chances to earn its first road series victory, starting Saturday, April 9, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. The Redhawks and Wolf Pack will conclude the series Sunday, April 10, beginning at 11 a.m.