Saint Mary's (23-26) did all of its damage in the first game in the third inning, as Cole Norton and Justin Fazio earned back-to-back singles before Patrick Wisdom hit a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field. Other than that span of three hits, Seattle U starter Brandon Kizer (Marysville, Wash.) pitched a solid complete game, allowing just five hits and two walks in eight innings while striking out six batters.
Gael starter Mark Anderson also pitched a complete game, striking out nine Redhawk batters while giving up four hits and two walks, plus hitting three batters. Seattle U had two runners on base in both the fourth and sixth innings, but could not convert on either scoring opportunity.
In the second game, it was Seattle U who jumped on top in the third inning, as Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, reached third by beating out a throw from Gael shortstop Michael Gastelum on a Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) grounder, and scored on a single to center field by Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.). Oleszczuk would score when Richard Boas threw the ball away attempting to complete a double play off a Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) grounder.
Another hit batsman started the Redhawk scoring threat in the fourth inning, as Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) was hit by a pitch for the third time in the doubleheader. A single by Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) advanced Kalalau to third base, and a walk drawn by Comer loaded the bases with one out. Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) drew a walk, forcing in Kalalau, and Oleszczuk followed with a single to right field that scored Tompkins. The threat was ended when Troy Channing converted on an unassisted double play by catching a line drive from Hendrickson and tagging Oleszczuk out.
Seattle U starter Seafth Howe (Seattle, Wash.) allowed Boas and Gastelum to reach base to lead off both the third and fifth innings, but Howe was able to set down the next three batters in order without any runs scoring. However, Howe's day ended in the sixth inning after he gave up a two-run home run to Brenden Kalfus.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Norton drew a one-out walk off Redhawk reliever Bryan Dalton (Vancouver, Wash.) and beat out a throw from Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.) to reach second base safely on a grounder by Fazio. Wisdom followed with a single to center field, and a bobble by Morales allowed Norton to come around and score. Dalton would walk Channing to load the bases before being lifted for Blaine Jones (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). A high chopper by Donald Collins allowed the tying run to score, and a slow roller hit by Kalfus was thrown away by Jones, scoring Fazio and Wisdom to give the Gaels a 6-4 advantage.
The Redhawks came back in the eighth inning, started by an infield single by Kalalau, a single to left-center field by Tompkins, and Comer's fourth free pass of the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Morales drew another walk that brought in Kalalau with a run, and Oleszczuk's sacrifice fly to right field scored Tompkins to tie the game at 6-6. Hendrickson once again made solid contact, but the line drive flew right into Kalfus's glove, keeping the game tied.
Toby DeMello led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double into the right-center field gap and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a pitching change from Jones to Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska), Gastelum walked, and pinch hitter Markus Melgosa laid down a successful squeeze bunt, scoring DeMello and advancing Gastelum to second base. Fazio's single up the middle allowed Gastelum to come around and score an insurance run for the Gaels.
Saint Mary's reliever Patrick Keane struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn the victory, while Jones picked up the loss after allowing DeMello to reach base in the eighth. Oleszczuk and Tompkins each earned two hits in the game, while Morales went 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs driven in.
Seattle University (20-29-1) and Saint Mary's will finish the series Sunday, May 22, with a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. Live audio will be available on GoSeattleU.com.