“Mandie [Sugita] had another solid start in the circle in game one,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Bubba [Morrow] and Savannah [Loomis] carried our offense with the long ball and Breanna [Timmons] made several great plays to keep New Mexico off the bases. Alyssa [Reuble] kept Hawaii off balance but several defensive miscues allowed the game to get away from us.”
Seattle U 8, New Mexico 2
The Redhawks struck early in the contest, adding three runs in the first and four more in the second to take a 7-0 lead through two innings. Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) started the first inning with a two-RBI home run before Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) drove in the third run on a single through the left side.
In the bottom of the second, Savannah Loomis (Roseville, Calif.) hit a key two-out grand slam to center field to put Seattle U up, 7-0.
Michala Erickson homered to center field to start the third inning for New Mexico as the Lobos got on the board and they would add one more in the seventh, but Morrow added her second home run of the game in the fourth as the Redhawks earned the win.
Loomis led Seattle U at the plate, hitting 2-for-3 with two runs and four RBI on a grand slam. Morrow also hit 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs, three RBI, and two home runs.
In the circle, Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) allowed just two runs on seven hits while walking and striking out three apiece. Tess McPherson allowed four runs on five hits while walking one for the Lobos, facing just seven batters, and Krissy Fortner would enter in relief allowing four runs on three hits while walking four and striking out three.
Hawaii 8, Seattle U 0 (5 innings)
Hawaii would take a 4-0 lead through one, starting their first set of at bats with a home run to right center from Kayla Wartner as Heather Morales and Sarina Jaramillo would add an RBI double and single, respectively.
The Redhawks loaded the bases in the top of the second but could not drive the runners home as Hawaii would add another home run in the bottom of the third on a home run by Rachel Lack to lead 5-0.
SU would leave a runner in scoring position in the third and one more on base in the fourth but Hawaii scored three more runs in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles and a Redhawk error to take the game.
Breanna Timmons (Santa Maria, Calif.) hit 2-for-2 in the game, recording two of the Redhawks’ five hits.
In the circle, Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) allowed eight runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out one in 4 2/3 innings pitched. For Hawaii, Brittany Hitchcock allowed just five hits while walking one to pick up the win.