The Seattle University softball team led No. 13/12 Oregon (36-12) through six and a half innings in game one, but a powerful bottom of the seventh for the Ducks helped them make the comeback and they came away with the 9-8 win in game one and the 8-0 win in game two.
Game 1 - Oregon 9, Seattle U 8
The Redhawks got on the board first, scoring four runs in the top of the second to take the 4-0 lead. All four runs were scored with two outs on an Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) double and a Theresa Clark (Lakewood, Colo.) home run.
The Ducks added a run of their own in the bottom of the third followed by a scoreless fourth inning by either side.
Each team scored two runs in the fifth inning, with Seattle U's runs scored on Bubba Morrow's (Auburn, Wash.) sixth home run of the year. SU added two more runs in the top of the sixth on a Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) single and a Jenny Hurst (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) walk with the bases loaded.
With the Redhawks holding an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, the Ducks added two runs on a home run by Alexa Peterson and two more on a two-run single to left field by Jamie Rae Sullivan. Still with no outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Kelsey Chambers hit a walk-off RBI double to center field to end the game and give the Ducks the 9-8 victory.
Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) got the start for Seattle U, giving up one run on one hit while walking three and striking out one batter in two innings pitched. Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) entered in relief, giving up six runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out three in four innings. Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) came in for the final relief inning and was handed the loss, giving up two runs on just three hits, while walking one batter.
Karissa Hovinga earned the win for Oregon, allowing eight runs on ten hits, while walking and striking out four in seven innings pitched.
Game 2 - Oregon 8, Seattle U 0 (5 innings)
Oregon took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second before adding four more runs in the fourth inning and three in the bottom of the fifth and came away with the 8-0 win in five innings in the Redhawks' season finale. The Ducks recorded three home runs in the contest.
Ashburn got her second start of the day and was handed the loss for the Redhawks, giving up five runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Sugita entered in relief, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking one in 2/3 innings pitched.
Hovinga earned her second win of the day in the circle for the Ducks, giving up just one hit and two walks, while striking out one batter in five innings pitched.
Seattle University (15-30) finishes the 2012 season and will join the Western Athletic Conference starting in the 2012-13 school year.