Seattle University softball (10-11) completed a perfect weekend with a come-from-behind victory over UC Davis (7-15) and their second win of the weekend versus Santa Clara (1-11). This weekend’s wins extended the Redhawks’ current winning streak to seven games.
"We had a great weekend and were able to overcome the weather," said head coach Dan Powers. "Our offense was great and our defense and pitching came through when it counted. Izzy [Geronimo] really stepped it up this weekend and her game-winning hit was huge for us. Each week we get a little better and we hope to be firing on all cylinders once we start WAC play."
Game 1: Seattle U 7, UC Davis 6
Seattle U took the early lead as Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) drove in Jenny Hurst (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) in the bottom of the first, but UC Davis would tie the game in the next half inning. Kaila Olson scored for the Aggies on a Redhawk wild pitch.
The tie remained unbroken in the third inning as the two teams hit matching home runs. Amy Nunez hit a 2RBI home run for the Aggies before Maulden hit a 2RBI homer for the Redhawks as the score was tied, 3-3, through three innings.
UC Davis took a 5-4 lead in the fourth on a pair of RBI singles before Brianna Guerrero (Buena Park, Calif.) answered with an RBI single of her own. Neither team able to score in the fifth, the Aggies added one more run in the sixth on an RBI single to left center by Nunez.
Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) reached base on a fielder’s choice in the sixth, advancing to second on a passed ball, but she was left stranded on base. A quick three-and-out for the Aggies in the top of the seventh set up one final chance for the Redhawks to make a comeback.
In the final half inning, Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) narrowed the deficit, 6-5, on a single to left field before Maulden tied the game, scoring on an error by the UC Davis catcher. With two outs, Geronimo would drive in the game-winning walkoff run with a single up the middle to bring Sugita home.
Maulden led the Redhawks with two runs, three hits, and three RBIs as SU led UC Davis in hits, 14-12.
In the circle, Sugita earned the win, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings in relief. Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) earned the start for SU. Alicia Paine was handed the loss for the Aggies, allowing the final four runs on eight hits while striking out one. Dana Cruse started in the circle for UC Davis, giving up the first three runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three in the three inning outing.
Game 2: Seattle U 13, Santa Clara 11
Santa Clara would score first, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back hits to drive in subsequent runs. A huge second inning for SU would gain the Redhawk advantage, 5-2, as they scored five runs during the inning. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) led the way during the inning with a 2RBI single to right field.
Back-to-back three and out’s over the next two half innings allowed Santa Clara to regain the lead, 6-5, in the bottom of the third with four unearned runs with two outs.
The Redhawks’ fourth inning would make the difference as they scored six runs to retake the lead for good, 11-6. After two outs to open the inning, Maulden would bat in two runs and Kayla Shuster-Gonzales (Escondido, Calif.) would drive in three more.
Santa Clara narrowed the margin in the bottom of the frame, 11-9, on a 2RBI single by Geenamarie Bonilla and an RBI double down the left field line by Krista Jensen. Two strikeouts to end the inning would cap their scoring run.
Each team would score two more runs, as Morrow hit a 2RBI single in the fifth and Santa Clara’s Bonilla and Gianetta France scored back-to-back runs in the seventh, but SU would hold on to take the win.
Geronimo led the Redhawks with three runs and four hits as SU outhit SCU, 13-12, overall.
Sugita earned her second win of the day in the circle, coming in to pitch the final 4 1/3 innings after Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) started the game. Jessica Turner was handed the loss as one of four Bronco pitchers to see time in the circle.