After winning two straight Western Athletic Conference series, Seattle University softball (20-28, 8-10 WAC) dropped three straight games to WAC-leading New Mexico State. The Redhawks remain tied for third in the conference with Louisiana Tech, UTSA, and Texas State going into the final weekend of regular season conference play. Seattle U heads to No. 5 Oregon for a non-conference midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, May 1 before hosting Louisiana Tech for a three-game conference series to finish out the regular season. The Redhawks look to qualify for next week’s WAC tournament, hosted by LA Tech, as there needs to be a combination of two SU wins or UT Arlington losses to qualify. Links to available live stats, audio, and video are on the schedule page at GoSeattleU.com. The Oregon doubleheader will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network website. For the most up-to-date information on the team, stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com, Seattle U Athletics on Facebook and @su_athletics on Twitter.
Hit Parade: Isabella Geronimo currently (as of Apr. 30) leads the conference with an 11 game hitting streak dating back to game one vs. Utah State on Mar. 12.
This Weekend’s Promotions: On Friday, from 2-3 p.m., there will be a Redout event at the north end of Seattle University Park with food and fun for the whole family • During the game, fans are invited to play Seattle U Softball bingo, as the first person to get a bingo and first person to get a blackout will each receive an SU prize pack • Throughout the weekend, there will be a free milk giveaway for kids, courtesy of Washington Dairy Farmers • There will also be a Diaper Drive, similar to the clothing drive that took place during men’s and women’s basketball season, to benefit Baby Basics, a local non-profit providing diapers and community to families. Fans are encouraged to drop off unopened packages of size 4, 5, and 6 diapers into collection bins at Logan Field, the Connolly Center, or the O’Brien Center until May 31 • Senior Day festivities will take place following the game on Saturday, as Allegra Wilde, Becca Cable, Breonna Chrisman, Jennifer Sweet, Jessica Ulrich, and Rogin Hardy suit up for the final time at home in Redhawk uniform • There will be sidewalk construction on 12th Ave right in front of the park between E Cherry and Jefferson from Apr. 29 - May 10, so fans are encouraged to avoid this area when entering the park.
Scouting No. 5 Oregon: The Ducks have been ranked in the top 10 for the entire 2013 season, as they received their highest ranking, No. 4, last week. Oregon still ranks No. 5 after winning last weekend’s series vs. then-No. 16 UCLA. They will host the Redhawks for a non-conference doubleheader before moving into the final two weekends of regular season play, hosting Oregon State and traveling to Arizona State. Three hitters boast over a .400 avg. for the season, led by Alexa Peterson (.472), with six others averaging over .300. The three-person pitching staff averages an ERA of 1.63, recording 340 total strikeouts and 13 complete games.
Last Time Out: The Redhawks closed the 2012 season with a doubleheader at then-No. 13/12 Oregon, narrowly losing the first, 9-8, and falling in the second, 8-0, in five innings.
Scouting Louisiana Tech: The Lady Techsters are part of the four-way tie for third-place in the league with Seattle U, with an 8-10 conference record. They swept UT Arlington in the second weekend of conference play but have only won one game in every other WAC series. Of note, they are one of just two teams in the WAC (along with Texas State) to hand current WAC-leader New Mexico State a conference loss. At the plate, Kristen Miles leads LA Tech with a .357 avg., also recording 33 runs on 50 hits, while five others average over .300. In the circle, Anna Cross leads the team with a 3.08 ERA.
Last Time Out: This will be the first ever meeting between the Redhawks and Lady Techsters.
New Mexico State Series (Apr. 26-27): The Redhawks dropped three to WAC-leading New Mexico State in Las Cruces. SU nearly won the final contest as they led 7-3 going into the bottom of the seventh but two straight NMSU 3RBI home runs completed the comeback as the Aggies won, 9-7.
Portland State Doubleheader (Apr. 24): The Redhawks went 1-1 vs. the Vikings in a doubleheader rescheduled from Apr. 10 due to weather. An early lead by the winning team in each contest proved to be the difference maker, as SU won the first game, 7-2, and dropped the second, 5-2. Brianna Guerrero led the way in game one, with a 3RBI home run, her third homer of the season. Jessica Ulrich earned her third win of the season and all four members of the Redhawk pitching staff saw time in the circle.