Seattle University softball (20-30, 8-10 WAC) fought a tough defensive battle in game one and attempted a late comeback in game two, but fell in both contests on No. 4 Oregon’s (42-7) home field.
Game 1: Oregon 4, Seattle U 0
The Ducks made their first real threat in the bottom of the third as they loaded the bases, but a final groundout stranded all three runners on base to end the inning. The Redhawks kept the Ducks scoreless until the bottom of the fourth.
Samantha Pappas singled to left field, recording the first hit for either team, on the first pitch in the bottom of the fourth. She would come in to score the first run of the ballgame for the Ducks, as she scored on a throwing error after stealing third base. With two outs, Alexa Peterson attempted to run home on a wild pitch, but was tagged out at home for the third out of the inning.
Oregon added to their total in the bottom of the fifth as Kaylan Howard hit a one-out 2RBI single to center field to drive in Courtney Ceo and Janie Takeda to take the 3-0 lead.
The Ducks extended their lead, 4-0, which proved to be the final score, in the bottom of the sixth as Alyssa Gillespie scored on a single by Takeda. UO again loaded the bases, but the Redhawks kept all three on base to end the inning.
Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) first reached base for the Redhawks in the top of the seventh on an error by the Oregon centerfielder, but had her Western Athletic Conference-leading 11-game hitting streak snapped.
In the circle for Oregon, Cheridan Hawkins recorded a new Oregon single-game high with 17 strikeouts in the no-hitter.
For the Redhawks, Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) pitched the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while walking three and Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) entered in relief allowing the final run on two hits while walking three in 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Game 2: Oregon 6, Seattle U 4
Oregon jumped out to a 6-0 lead through the first two innings as Pappas drove in two with a double to center field and Jessica Moore hit a 2RBI home run in the next at bat to close out the first inning. In the second, Ceo hit a 2RBI single to center field.
Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) was left on base to end the third inning and made her presence known with a 3RBI home run to center field in the fifth to narrow the deficit, 6-3.
Jenny Hurst (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) started off the top of the seventh for the Redhawks with a solo home run to right field, with Maulden adding another hit, but two final strikeouts ended the Redhawks chances as they fell, 6-4.
Ashburn pitched the complete game, allowing all six runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one in six innings pitched.
Moore allowed just two hits and struck out nine in five innings pitched, earning the win for Oregon, as Karissa Hovinga entered in relief allowing the four SU runs on four hits while striking out one.
The Redhawks are set to finish out the regular season with a three-game WAC series vs. Louisiana Tech on May 3-4. They will face the Lady Techsters for a doubleheader on Friday, May 3 at 3 p.m. and a single game on May 4 at 1 p.m. Five Redhawks – Jessica Ulrich, Becca Cable, Allegra Wilde, Rogin Hardy, and Breonna Chrisman – will play their final home game in Seattle U uniform as senior day festivities will take place following Saturday’s game. For all the latest updates on Seattle U softball and SU’s other 19 varsity sports, stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com, Seattle U Athletics on Facebook, and @su_athletics on Twitter.