Seattle University softball (1-6) came within one run versus BYU (3-3) but could not hold the Cougars as the Redhawks fell, 14-8, on day one of the Easton Desert Classic.
"I'm extremely proud of how we fought back after being down big early on," said head coach Dan Powers. "Our offense showed heart and Lindsay [Davis] gave us a chance to win. We are still not taking care of some of the little things and they are preventing us from winning."
BYU started with hot hitting from the beginning as Coco Tauali’i started the game with a home run and Katie Manuma hit a 2 RBI double to right center as they took a 3-0 lead through the first inning. They added two more runs in the second inning on a 2RBI sac fly by McKenzie St. Clair and added three more in the third, including two unearned runs to lead 7-0 through three innings.
The Redhawks got on the board in the bottom of the third and had a huge fourth inning in which they nearly tied the game, 8-7. Of note, Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) hit a 3 RBI homer while Kayla Shuster-Gonzales (Escondido, Calif.) hit a 2RBI single and Jennifer Sweet (Bend, Ore.) scored on a Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) RBI single up the middle.
The Cougars would fend off the Redhawks, however, with three additional runs apiece in the sixth and seventh innings, as the Redhawks could only add one more in the sixth on Shuster-Gonzales’ second RBI single of the game. Manuma scored all three runs for BYU in the sixth on a 3RBI home run to left field.
Five different Redhawks earned two hits in the game, while Morrow and Shuster-Gonzales led the team with 3 RBIs apiece.
In the circle, Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) was handed the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits while walking and striking out two. Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) and Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) entered in relief, giving up the final seven hits. The Cougars also pitched three different pitchers, with Manuma earning the win.
Seattle U faces Florida (9 a.m.), the No. 1 team in the nation, and Hawaii (1:30 p.m.) on day two of the tournament on Friday.