After sweeping British Columbia in their home opening doubleheader, the Seattle University softball team continues their homestand before heading to nearby University of Washington to compete in the Husky Softball Classic. Fans in Seattle will have several chances to watch the Redhawks locally this weekend, before they hit the road again for the next month. Seattle U begins the weekend by hosting the University of North Dakota for a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 9, starting at 12 p.m. at Logan Field. On Saturday, Mar. 10 and Sunday, Mar. 11, the Redhawks head to UW to face North Dakota again at 12 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday, and will face the hosting Huskies at 3 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Washington will be the first ranked opponent the Redhawks have faced this season.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO/AUDIO AVAILABLE FOR HUSKY SOFTBALL CLASSIC: Live stats will be available for all games this weekend, with the addition of video and audio available throughout the Husky Softball Classic. Live audio will be available at www.goseattleu.com for both Seattle U games versus North Dakota (Saturday, Mar. 10 at 12 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 11 at 10 a.m.) as well as the second contest versus Washington (Sunday, Mar. 11 at 4 p.m.) Live video will be available for free for all tournament games at www.goseattleu.com.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA: The University of North Dakota (6-11) started the season strong, going 3-1 in the Ramada UNI-Dome Classic, but comes into this weekend on a five-game losing streak after going 1-5 at the University of New Mexico Invitational. Last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M., North Dakota split a pair of games with CSU Bakersfield, winning the first, 15-1, and falling in the second, 3-1. They also suffered two losses each to Utah and host team New Mexico. The team will make a full tour of the Pacific Northwest this weekend, with a doubleheader at Seattle U, followed by four games as part of the Husky Softball Classic, and will round out the weekend playing a doubleheader at Portland State on Monday, Mar. 12.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle U last faced North Dakota during the 2008-09 season, on Saturday, Apr. 25, as part of the Independent Softball Tournament, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. The Redhawks came away with the 9-0 win as Hannah Klein, a then-pitcher, pitched a solid game, allowing only five hits and one walk in the five-inning run-rule victory.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON: Washington has had another strong start this season, with only one loss to Missouri, 2-0, on Feb. 25. Notable wins for the Huskies this season include handing then-No. 1/3 Florida their first loss of the season two days prior, on Feb. 23, both games part of the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Most recently, UW went 5-0 in the Louisville Slugger Classic in Stockton, Calif. last weekend, defeating Sacramento State, Delaware (twice), and Pacific (twice). Six of the team's 19 victories have been won based on the run-rule. Jerrin Fa'asua leads the team with a .515 average, making 17 appearances and nine starts for the Huskies. Pitcher Kaitlin Inglesby owns a 1.46 ERA and is 10-0 in 12 appearances and nine starts so far this season.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle U last faced Washington in the regular season during the Husky Softball Classic last season, falling to the Huskies, 16-2, in five innings on Saturday, Mar. 12, 2011. The Redhawks struck first, putting two early runs on the board in the first inning behind back-to-back doubles by Natalie Leyland and Allegra Wilde. The early lead, however, was short lived, as the then-No. 5 Huskies responded with 11 runs in the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the second, UW added five more runs, and came away with the win.