Seattle University softball split two contests on day two of the SpringHill Suites Invitational #2 with a loss to New Mexico (19-6) and a win over the University of Texas San-Antonio (10-15). Three different Redhawks hit 3RBI home runs in the two contests.
Game 1 - New Mexico 6, Seattle U 5
Game one was a back-and-forth battle, with two lead changes throughout. The Lobos got on the board first as Chelsea Anaya hit a solo home run with two outs in the first to put New Mexico up, 1-0. They added two more runs to the board in the top of the third to take the 3-0 lead as Stefanie Carramusa hit a solo home run and Anaya scored an unearned run on a Jessica Lujan-Dresslar single.
Seattle U powered back in the bottom of the third, adding four runs to the board and taking the lead. Jenny Hurst (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) doubled to left center, scoring Erin Crowley (Kent, Wash.) for the Redhawks' first run of the game. In the next at-bat, Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) hit a 3RBI home run, batting in Hurst and Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.).
A quick three-and-out by each team in the fourth and fifth innings sent the game into the sixth inning with the Redhawks still holding the lead, 4-3.
New Mexico retook the lead, 6-4, in the top of the sixth as Jordyn Bledsoe hit a 3RBI home run of her own to bring in Danielle Castro and Lujan-Dresslar.
Hurst singled through the right side in the bottom of the sixth to bat in Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.), to bring the Redhawks within one, 6-5, but they left the bases loaded to end the inning. With one more chance in the bottom of the seventh, two Seattle U runners were left on base, one of which was in scoring position, but a third out ended the game, 6-5, in favor of New Mexico.
Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) got the start for Seattle U, giving up six runs, five of which were earned, on eight hits, while walking and striking out one in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) entered in relief and allowed only one hit, while walking and striking out one, in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Carrie Sheehan notched the start and win for the Lobos, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits, while walking five and striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Kari Gutierrez entered the game for the final 2/3 inning and got the save.
Game 2 - Seattle U 6, UTSA 1
Game two began with only one hit for each team through the first three innings until Seattle U scored first in the top of the fourth. With two outs, a 0-2 count, and two in scoring position, Sugita hit a 3RBI home run to bat in Guerrero and Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) to put the Redhawks ahead, 3-0.
The Redhawks increased their lead on the top of the fifth as Maulden hit the second 3RBI home run of the game to put Seattle U ahead, 6-0, batting in Morrow and Hurst.
In the bottom of the Seventh, UTSA added one run to the board as Courtney Buchman scored on a Megan Low single, but it was not enough to earn the comeback, and the Redhawks came away with the 6-1 victory.
Sugita pitched all seven innings for the Redhawks and notched the win, allowing just one run on six hits, while walking three and striking out two.
Haylee Staton started in the circle for UTSA and gave up all six runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Morgan Luksa entered in relief and gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
"Today we had a chance to win both games," said head coach Dan Powers. "We left too many runners on against New Mexico. Richelle [Ashburn] threw a good game against a solid hitting team. Mandie [Sugita] shut down UTSA and helped herself with a three-run blast. Lisa [Maulden] hit a three-run shot to give us the lead. Bubba [Morrow] also had another home run in the first game."
Seattle U (7-14) will conclude play in the SpringHill Suites Invitational #2 on Saturday, Mar. 24, with another contest versus New Mexico at 9 a.m. and will again face UTSA at 11 a.m.