Seattle University softball (3-4) built a lead and prevented a Nevada (1-5) comeback, winning their first contest, 8-7, before dropping the late game, 3-1, to Utah (4-3).
"We beat Nevada in a slugfest today with some timely hitting and a big pickoff by Bubba [Morrow] to help seal the game," said head coach Dan Powers. "Utah was a tough game but we had our chances today; Mandie [Sugita] threw a great game but we fell short in our run support. I was very happy with our effort and know we will clean up the little things as we proceed with our season."
Seattle U 8, Nevada 7
The Redhawks would take 2-0 lead in the opening inning with a pair of back-to-back RBI singles from Kayla Shuster-Gonzales (Escondido, Calif.) and Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) and would double their lead, 4-0, two innings later with Shuster-Gonzales and Maulden recording their second RBI apiece.
In the bottom of the third, the Wolf Pack would narrow their deficit on a double to left center by Amanda Weis and they would tie the game an inning later on a sacrifice fly from Jasmine Jenkins.
A key fifth inning for Seattle U put the Redhawks back up by three, 7-4, as Molly Cambell (San Diego, Calif.) drove in Savannah Loomis (Roseville, Calif.) with an RBI single before Shuster-Gonzales and Breanna Timmons (Santa Maria, Calif.) would come around to score off a two-out 2RBI single by Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.).
Megan Sweet hit an RBI single to left field as Nevada inched towards a comeback, trailing 7-5, but the Redhawks would take an 8-5 lead in the top of the final inning off Rose Saenz’s (San Gabriel, Calif.) first Seattle U career home run.
Weis hit a 2RBI home run to left center after Danielle Wiltz reached base on an error, but their comeback would fall short as the Redhawks won the close contest, 8-7.
Shuster-Gonzales hit a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for the Redhawks, adding a run and two RBI. Geronimo and Paige Bouska (Keizer, Ore.) each went 3-for-5 as Geronimo added two RBI and Bouska added two runs.
In the circle, Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) earned the win in relief, allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three. Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) earned the start allowing four runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out three. For Nevada, Chase Redington was handed the loss in the start, allowing seven runs on 12 hits while walking two and striking out seven.
Utah 3, Seattle U 1
The Utes would score early in the game on an RBI single to center field as Kate Dickman drove in Hannah Flippen.
After a scoreless second and third inning for both teams, Utah added a pair of runs in the top of the fourth before the Redhawks narrowed their deficit as Bouska scored a run in the bottom of the frame.
Neither team able to add to their tallies in the fifth and sixth innings, Seattle U was given a final chance to score in the bottom of the seventh but their rally fell short as they left runners on the corners.
In the circle, Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) was handed the loss allowing all three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out five in the complete game outing. Miranda Viramontes notched the win for Utah allowing one run on just two hits while walking one and striking out four. Katie Donovan entered in relief, picking up the save.