SU jumped out early in game one and never looked back. With a pair of runners on, Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) got things going with a two RBI double to center field. The Redhawks added a third run in the bottom of the first off Hannah Klein's (Camarillo, Calif.) ground out to second base, which scored Wilde.
Utah Valley added a solo run of their own in the second inning, but the offensive momentum stayed with the Redhawks.
In the bottom half of the inning, with the bases loaded, Natalie Leyland (Richland, Wash.) slammed a double to left center to bring home a pair of Seattle U runs. Wilde followed with an RBI ground out and Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) made it a 7-1 game with an RBI ground out of her own.
Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) tacked on SU's final run of the game. She hit a two out single down the left field line.
She would finish the day going 4-for-6, with a pair of runs and an RBI.
Starting pitcher Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) was solid in the circle for the Redhawks. She kept the Wolverines off the board until the seventh inning again, where they added another solo run. In 7.0 innings of work, she tallied six strikeouts in 30 batters faced.
In the second game of Saturday's twin bill, UVU came out much more aggressive. After a scoreless first inning, the Wolverines' Deianna Russell hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to swing the momentum early to Utah Valley.
The following inning, UVU's Amanda Perez hit an RBI single to right center to quickly make it a 3-0 game.
With an out and a runner on second, Leyland singled to center field to get the Redhawks on the board.
Seattle U would even the score in the bottom of the fourth, working towards a come-from-behind run. After a leadoff strikeout, Klein singled to center field. Two batters later, Jessica Amador (Whittier, Calif.) sailed the ball over the left field fence to make it a 3-3 contest. It was the senior catcher's second home run of the season.
The Redhawks managed to take control of the game in the sixth inning. Ulrich led the inning off with a walk and was quickly brought home off Klein's double to left center.
Klein had a pair of hits, two RBIs and a run on the day.
In the top of the seventh things looked to be going in the Redhawks' favor. Starting pitcher Ulrich quickly got the first two batters out, before the game unraveled. A pair of base hits followed by a pair of walks loaded the bases and sent home the tying run. With the bases loaded, Ashburn came into the game to take over pitching duties to face UVU's Perez. Perez's hit went to the center field wall, bounced off of SU's Sarah Petosa's (Auburn, Wash.) glove and dropped over the fence to give the Wolverines an 8-4 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Seattle U could not rally back and get any runners around the bases.
"We had our chances today to come back and win both games," said head coach Dan Powers. "We played well today for 41 outs, but that final out in the second game was the difference maker. I hope we can learn from this and use it to improve going forward."
The Redhawks will close out their four-game series with Utah Valley on Sunday, Apr. 17, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.