“We gave too many extra outs against a good hitting team,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Our pitchers did their job today but we beat ourselves defensively.”
The Redhawks would walk home a pair of bases loaded runs in the top of the first as Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) and Paige Bouska (Keizer, Ore.) scored after reaching base on back-to-back outfield singles. Solid Seattle U defense stranded two Spartans in scoring position in the bottom of the first and one more in the second on a San Jose State attempt to score on a flyout to center field.
SU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third after Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) opened the inning with a solo home run to left center, but the Spartans would tack on run in their next three chances at bat.
Alyssa Martinez drew SJSU within two, 3-1, with an RBI single to left field, bringing home Jessica Madrid in the bottom of the third and San Jose State would score three apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to gain the 7-3 lead. All three runs unearned in the fourth, two were scored on a pair of RBI singles from Jessie Hufstetler and Sharon-Renae Estrada.
The Redhawks advanced runners to second and third but left both in scoring position in the top of the fifth as the Spartans added a trio of runs for the second straight inning on a two-RBI single to right field from Schultz and a sacrifice bunt by Michelle Cox.
Both teams scoreless in the sixth, the Redhawks looked to be surmounting a comeback in the top of the seventh when Sara Dominguez (Santa Ynez, Calif.) batted in Bouska with an RBI double to right field and Maddy Kristjanson (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) brought Dominguez home with an infield single, but a final groundout ended Seattle U’s comeback chances.
Bouska hit 3-for-4 for the Redhawks, adding two runs, while Kristjanson hit 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead SU at the plate.
In the circle, Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) entered in relief, giving up six runs on five hits while walking two in 3 1/3 innings. Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) gave up just the first run on five hits while walking two and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
In the circle for the Spartans, Madison Fish allowed five runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out nine in the 6 2/3 inning start and Allison Lang picked up the save, giving up just one hit in 1/3 innings pitched.
Seattle U heads back to California next weekend for the Louisville Slugger Invitational at Long Beach State, where they will face Boise State, Long Beach State, Portland State, Southern Utah, and Weber State. Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com for all the latest updates on the team throughout the 2015 campaign.