One big inning for the winning team in each game sealed the deal as Seattle University softball (20-25, 8-7 WAC) won the first game of the doubleheader and Portland State (17-26, 9-3 BSC) came away with the win in game two.
Game 1: Seattle U 7, Portland State 2
The Vikings left the bases loaded to end the first inning, but the Redhawks jumped ahead adding seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the first. Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) led the way with a 3RBI home run, her third of the season. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) hit a sac fly to center field to drive in Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) for the first run and Geronimo capped off the inning with an RBI single to drive in Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.). The Redhawks also scored runs on a wild pitch and an error by the Portland State infield.
After a scoreless second inning, Brittany Hendrickson hit an RBI single to drive in one run for the Vikings but they still trailed, 7-1, through five innings, despite leaving at least one runner in scoring position to end the fourth and fifth innings.
The Redhawks left two on base to end the bottom of the fifth, as Jennifer Sweet (Bend, Ore.) was left in scoring position, and went three-and-out in the bottom of the sixth.
PSU added a second run in the top of the sixth, as Sadie Lopez drove in Carly McEachran with an RBI single, and left two on base to end the seventh, but it was not enough as Seattle U came away with the 7-2 win.
Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) earned her third win of the season, allowing just one run on eight hits while walking and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) entered in relief, allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out two in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
In the circle for the Vikings, Raya Johnson was handed the loss, allowing five runs on three hits while walking two in the 1/3 of an inning start. Anna Bertrand entered in relief, allowing the final two Redhawk runs on four hits while walking two and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
Game 2: Portland State 5, Seattle U 2
Portland State took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Lopez scored on a Hendrickson double. The Redhawks evened the score in the bottom of the inning as Maulden drove in Geronimo with an RBI single.
Despite a scoreless second and third inning, each team left two runners on base through the second and top of the third.
The top of the fourth proved to be key for Portland State, adding four runs to lead, 5-1. Lopez drove in the first two runs with a 2RBI single up the middle, and later scored as the batter reached on an error by the Seattle U infield. Crysta Conn doubled to drive in Lauran Bliss for the final run of the inning.
The teams scoreless in the fifth and seventh innings, the Redhawks added one more run in the bottom of the sixth as Guerrero scored on a Hayley Beckstrom (Maple Valley, Wash.) single after opening up the inning with a double of her own. Seattle U loaded the bases with one out, but the Vikings kept the SU runners on base as the inning ended with the bases loaded. The Redhawks again loaded the bases to end the seventh but could not drive the runners home as they fell, 5-2, in the final game of the day.
Karyn Wright earned the win for the Vikings, giving up two runs on 10 hits while walking three and striking out one in 6 1/3 inning pitched. Raya Johnson earned her first save of the season, pitching 2/3 of an inning while walking one.
In the circle for Seattle U, Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) was handed the loss, allowing all five runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out four in five innings pitched. Breonna Chrisman entered the game in relief, making her first appearance at home and second of the season, allowing two hits in two innings pitched.
The Redhawks travel to face WAC-leader New Mexico State for a three-game conference series in Las Cruces, N.M. this weekend. The teams will face for a single game on Friday Apr. 26 at 5 p.m. PT and a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 3 p.m. PT. Available live stats, audio, and video links are on the softball schedule page at GoSeattleU.com.