In their first day at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational, Seattle University softball (8-6) went 1-1 on the day, topping South Dakota State, 8-2, before falling to host UCSB, 3-2.
"Bubba and Lisa had home runs for us today and our pitching gave us a chance to win," said head coach Dan Powers. "We needed more quality at bats today."
Game 1 - Seattle U 8, South Dakota State 2
South Dakota State (6-9) took the early lead, scoring one run in the opening inning on an RBI single by Kori Seidlitz to center field with two outs, with Emily Weber scoring the run on the play. Solid pitching by Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) struck out the final batter as the Jackrabbits left three on base to end the inning.
Despite the Redhawks leaving two on base to end the bottom of the first, neither team was able to score again until the fourth inning.
SDSU added another run to take the 2-0 lead as Kelly Kleppin hit an RBI single to center field driving in Sammy Bingham. However, this would prove to be the last offensive output for the Jackrabbits for the remainder of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Seattle U got on the board with four runs, taking the 4-2 lead, highlighted by Isabella Geronimo's (San Mateo, Calif.) 2RBI single to right field. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) and Becca Cable (Tacoma, Wash.) scored on the hit.
The Redhawks added to their lead, 5-2, with a single run in the fifth inning as Morrow drove in Rogin Hardy (Kirkland, Wash.) with a double to left field.
Seattle U tacked on three more runs, all on home runs, in the bottom of the sixth to add to their lead and seal the win, 8-2. Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) hit a solo home run to right field for the first run and Morrow added a 2RBI homer to left field soon thereafter.
Morrow led the team with two runs and three RBIs in the game, with Sarah Petosa (Federal Way, Wash.) adding two hits and Geronimo adding two RBIs. Morrow and Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) led the team with three hits apiece.
In the circle, Ashburn allowed just two runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out six in the complete game victory. For SDSU, Jennifer Sutton allowed all eight runs while walking seven and striking out three in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Mindy Lorimor entered in relief, allowing just two hits in 2/3 inning pitched.
Game 2 - UCSB 3, Seattle U 2
Much like the first game, UC Santa Barbara (10-5) got on the board first, as Jessica Soria stole home for an unearned run, to give the Gauchos the early lead, 1-0.
Both teams scoreless through the second inning, Seattle U tied the game in the top of the third, 1-1, as Geronimo scored, also on an error by the UCSB infield.
The game remained tied through the fourth and fifth innings, as each team left one runner on base in each half of the two innings. Neither team was able to get a runner past first base.
The Redhawks took the lead in the top of the sixth, 2-1, as Hardy hit a RBI double to right center to bring in Cable. Leaving one runner on base, they were not able to add to their lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Lauren Boser scored the tying run and Keilani Jennings scored the winning run, both on a 2 RBI single up the middle by Samantha Stark. Not able to get further offensive output going, the Redhawks fell, 3-2, in the contest.
Petosa, Hardy, and Wilde each got a single hit for the Redhawks in the contest. Soria, Arianna Palomares, and McKenzie Kane led UCSB with two hits apiece.
In the circle, Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) was handed the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits while walking four and striking out four in six innings pitched.
Shelby Wisdom pitched the complete game for the Gauchos in the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while walking three and striking out nine.
The Redhawks return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 2, as they take on UCSB again at 10 a.m. followed by South Dakota State at 12 p.m.