“We had a solid first day with good hitting and defense,” said head coach Dan Powers. “We still need some work in the circle but I’m proud of our effort today.”
Seattle U returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 versus Cal State Northridge at 3:30 p.m. and San Diego State at 6 p.m.
Game 1: Seattle U 8, Cal Poly 4
Seattle U gained an early lead versus Cal Poly (0-1) that the Mustangs were not able to bounce back from, scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the third to lead, 5-0.
Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) drove in Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) for the first run of the year before scoring a run of her own on a Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) single. Morrow would close out the inning with a run on a Jenny Hurst (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) double to right center as SU led 3-0 through one inning.
A pair of quick three-and-out’s for Cal Poly across the first two innings, the Redhawks would tack on two more in the third inning. Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) hit a solo home run to center field before Hurst drove in Morrow with a double to left center.
SU would extend their lead to 7-0 in the top of the fifth as Morrow hit a two-run homer to left field, driving in Maulden, who reached base after being hit by pitch.
The Mustangs were able to get on the board with a single run in the bottom of the inning as Mariah Cochiolo hit a home run to right center to open the inning, cutting the deficit, 7-1.
Cal Poly appeared to be making a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, opening the inning with two straight hits. Jillian Andersen would drive in two runs with a double to left center and Breana West scored at the end of the inning on an illegal pitch, but Lauren Moreno grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Hurst would add a home run for insurance and, allowing only a single hit in the bottom of the inning, the Redhawks secured the 8-4 win.
Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) earned the win in the circle, giving up just one run while walking one and striking out two in five innings. Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) also made an appearance, allowing three runs on three hits while walking one in 2/3 inning. Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) made her first collegiate appearance allowing one hit and striking out one batter in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Chloe Wurst suffered the loss for the Mustangs, allowing eight runs on 13 hits while striking out five in the complete game outing.
Paige Bouska (Keizer, Ore.) and Kayla Shuster-Gonzales (Escondido, Calif.) made their first collegiate starts while Megan Ottino (Torrance, Calif.) made an appearance in the DH spot.
Game 2: San Jose State 11, Seattle U 7
A familiar opponent for Seattle U, San Jose State (3-0) won last year’s conference tournament as a Western Athletic Conference foe. Seattle U took the late lead thanks to a big sixth inning, but a five-run seventh inning for San Jose State gave the Spartans the 11-7 win.
San Jose State took the early lead, amassing four runs in the opening two innings. Devin Caldwell first scored on a Alyssa Martinez single to right center before Martinez and Jessie Hufstetler scored unearned runs. Geronimo would single to first base in the bottom of the inning, but could not make it further as Martinez scored in the second inning to give SJSU the 4-0 lead.
Seattle U got on the board in the bottom of the third on a home run by Hayley Beckstrom (Maple Valley, Wash.) but SJSU added a run in the fifth and sixth innings to lead, 6-1.
The Redhawks would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, 7-6, scoring six runs in the inning alone. Of note, Morrow hit a 2 RBI single to left center to drive in Guerrero and Geronimo while Beckstrom hit a 2RBI single to drive in Ottino and Sarah Petosa (Federal Way, Wash.). Jennifer Sweet (Bend, Ore.) and Ottino also hit RBI singles to drive in a run apiece.
The top of the seventh, however, proved to be the difference maker as the Spartans were able to record five runs of their own to win, 11-7. Jessica Garcia hit a 2RBI single to center field to drive in Martinez and Caldwell while Martinez hit an RBI single and Jessie Meyer hit a sac fly to drive in the fourth run. SJSU would seal the victory with an unearned run to close the inning on a passed ball.
Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) earned her first start in the circle, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three in five innings pitched. Davis also made an appearance, allowing three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one in two innings pitched. Sugita gave up the final three runs on two hits while walking one.