Seattle University softball (8-8) finished day two of the UCSB Invitational, going 0-2 on the day. In game one, the Redhawks played the Gauchos to a close contest, allowing the winning two runs in the 10th inning, and in the second game, Seattle U fell to South Dakota State, 8-0, in six innings.
Game 1: UCSB 6, Seattle U 4 (10 innings)
Despite Seattle U leaving at least one runner on base in the opening three innings, the game remained scoreless going into the top of the fourth. The Redhawks had their best chance to score in the first, as Sarah Petosa (Federal Way, Wash.) reached second base, but two more outs ended the inning.
The Gauchos got on the board first in the top of the fourth as Shelby Wisdom hit an RBI single to center field to drive in Arianna Palomares. Wisdom got as far as second base, but UCSB left two runners stranded to end the inning.
SU responded in kind in the bottom of the inning, adding a run of their own, as Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) scored on an error by the Gaucho infield after hitting a triple to open the inning.
The score remained tied, 1-1, through the fifth inning until the sixth when each team added to their score.
Palomares reached base as she was hit by pitch before Kathryn Pilpil hit a 2RBI home run to center field to drive in the go-ahead runs and give the Gauchos the 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Redhawks again responded in like manner, adding two runs of their own to again tie the game, 3-3. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) scored on a single to right field by Allegra Wilde (Kennewick, Wash.) before Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) drove in Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.). SU left runners on second and third but a final ground out ended the inning and their chance to take the lead.
The game went into extra innings as the game remained tied through the scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Seattle U left two runners on base in each scoreless inning, with Guerrero advancing as far as third in the eighth, but the Redhawks were not able to drive in the runs as two straight strikeouts ended the inning.
Each team scored a single run in the ninth, as the score remained tied, 4-4. Wisdom scored the run to take the lead for UCSB on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Boser and Petosa scored on a sacrifice fly by Rogin Hardy (Kirkland, Wash.).
UC Santa Barbara scored two more runs in the top of the tenth, as Jessica Soria was placed on second and Palomares hit the winning 2 RBI home run to right field. The Gauchos left three on base but were not able to add to their lead.
Morrow was placed on second, also due to the international tiebreaker rule, and reached as far as third, but two more outs ended the Redhawks' chance at the comeback as the Gauchos won, 6-4, in 10 innings.
Morrow and Wilde led SU with two hits apiece and Palomares led UCSB with three runs, two hits, and two RBIs.
In the circle, Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) got the start and was handed the loss for the Redhawks, allowing all six runs, four earned, on nine hits while striking out six in nine innings pitched. Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) entered in relief, giving up the final two hits in a single inning pitched.
For the Gauchos on the mound, Wisdom got the start, allowing one run and walking one while striking out two in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Alex Pingree entered in relief, giving up three runs on six hits while walking two and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings pitched, followed by Andriana Collins who allowed just one hit in one inning pitched.
Game 2: South Dakota State 8, Seattle U 0
Neither team was able to get on the board in the first two innings, despite the Redhawks leaving two runners on base in each of the opening innings. They had their best chance to score in the top of the second inning as Maulden reached third base.
In the bottom of the third, South Dakota State took the 3-0 lead highlighted by a 2RBI single up the middle by Kelly Kleppin. Devon Reick also hit a single to drive in Emily Weber to start the inning.
Both teams scoreless in the fourth inning, the Jackrabbits added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Elyse Eitel hit an RBI single and Allison Huffman hit a 2RBI double to right center in the next at bat.
Seattle U had another chance to score in the top of the sixth, as Morrow advanced to second. However, two more outs ended the inning as the Redhawks left two on base.
The Jackrabbits added an additional two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a 2RBI double by Kleppin as SDSU took the win, 8-0, in six innings.
For SU, Sugita allowed all eight runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out three in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Jennifer Sutton got the complete game shutout for South Dakota State, allowing just two hits while walking five and striking out two in six innings pitched.
The Redhawks finish the UCSB Invitational on Sunday, Mar. 3 at 12 p.m. as they face host UCSB for one final game.