In game one, Seattle U faced Santa Clara (1-11) and came away with the 3-2 win in eight innings.
Both teams were scoreless through three innings of play, despite Santa Clara leaving three runners on base in the top of the second, and Seattle U leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the second.
A double by Kelly Scribner in the top of the fourth put Santa Clara on the board first, 1-0. Scribner was left on base to end the top of the inning, but the Broncos were able to keep Seattle U from reaching base until the bottom of the sixth.
The contest entered the bottom of the seventh with Santa Clara still on top by one run, but a pinch hit by Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) turned everything around for the Redhawks. Guerrero hit a single with two outs, batting in Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.) and tying the game, 1-1, sending the game into extra innings.
Santa Clara again took the lead in the top of the eighth, with a single to center field by Jamie Wallis, batting in Briana Knight for an unearned run. The Redhawks then had one final chance to win or again tie the game.
Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) scored the first run of the inning, unearned, on an error by the Santa Clara catcher. In the next at bat, Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) doubled to left field, batting in Becca Cable (Tacoma, Wash.) and scoring the winning run.
"The team struggled at the plate until [Brianna] lit a fire for the team," said head coach Dan Powers. [After that], we had better at bats to come away with the win."
Powers added, "Jessica and Richelle threw a great game today. I was very proud of our pitching and defense today."
Jaymi Bautista-Geiger got the start for the Broncos and pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, three runs, walking one, and striking out two.
Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) got the start for the Redhawks, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing only four hits and one run, while walking three and striking out four. Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and notched the win for Seattle U, allowing only three hits and one run, while striking out one batter.
In game two, the Redhawks faced Sacramento State (4-3) and came away with their second victory of the day, topping the Hornets, 5-4.
The second contest began in similar fashion as the first, as both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings.
In the top of the third inning, Cable singled to left field and batted in Clark for an unearned run for Seattle U, as Clark had previously advanced to third on an error by the Sacramento State right fielder. Sacramento State evened the score in the bottom of the inning with a run by Devin Caldwell, tying the score, 1-1.
Seattle U jumped ahead in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs and going ahead, 4-1. Cable batted in her second run of the game, with a single to left field, bringing in Guerrero for the first run of the inning. Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) scored the second run as Petosa was hit by pitch, and the third run of the inning came as Clark scored on a wild pitch.
After a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, the Seattle U added another run, putting them up 5-1, in the top of the sixth, as Clark scored on an Ashley DeVaere (Riverside, Calif.) single.
Up by four runs, the Redhawks faced a scare in the bottom of the seventh, as Sacramento State attempted the comeback, putting two runs on the board with a single to right center by Devin Caldwell. The Hornets loaded the bases with two outs and put one more run on the board, as Caldwell scored on a Marissa Navarro walk, but the Redhawks were able to get the third out and come away with the victory.
"We made some good adjustments at the plate and put pressure on their pitchers," said Powers. "We got runners on with walks and [being hit by pitch]. Our discipline paid dividends with runs."
Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) got the start for the Redhawks, and her first career win, pitching six innings and allowing only two runs on two hits, while walking two, and striking out five. Ashburn came in for the final inning and allowed two runs on two hits, while walking two and striking out one.
"Mandie threw a gem today, I was very proud of how she threw against a good-hitting Sacramento State team," Powers added.
Caitlin Brooks started for the Hornets, pitching 3 2/3 innings, and allowing only three hits, but giving up four runs, while walking three, and striking out four. Shelby Voelz pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, while walking three, and striking out two batters.
"Overall we still have work ahead of us but we showed we can compete when we put it all together," Powers said. "We are a young team and will continue to grow as the season goes on."
The Redhawks (2-5) continue tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 25, with one game versus host Saint Mary's at 12:30 p.m. and finish the tournament with another game versus Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 8:30 a.m.