“I was proud of how we rebounded from the first game,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Our pitching and offense stepped up to give us a chance to win the series. Alyssa [Reuble] was solid and Mandie [Sugita] closed it out.”
The Redhawks and Lopes will close the three-game series on Saturday with a single game set for 3 p.m. PT.
Game 1: GCU 11, SU 3 (6)
The Redhawks took the first-inning lead as Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.) scored on an RBI single to center field from Rose Saenz (San Gabriel, Calif.), but the Lopes would answer and take a 4-1 lead, a lead they’d keep for good, in the bottom of the frame. The four runs would come home on a pair of RBI singles and a two-RBI triple to left field from Bianca Boling.
Despite a two-RBI double to right field by Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) in the top of the third, GCU tacked on a pair of runs in each of the second, third, and fifth innings to lead, 10-3. In the bottom of the sixth, a Haley Walker single to center would be enough to drive home Brielle Breland for the game-ending run.
Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) suffered the loss for SU allowing six runs on seven hits while walking and striking out one apiece while Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) entered in relief, giving up five runs on nine hits while walking two.
Taylor Nowlin picked up the win in relief for the Lopes, allowing two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out six in the five inning outing.
Game 2: SU 7, GCU 4
SU took a 3-0 lead in their first outing on a pair of RBI singles and a fielder’s choice before GCU narrowed their deficit, 3-2, in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI home run to left field from Brittany Medina.
The Redhawks would hold the Lopes at bay and secure the lead for good in the top of the fourth on a Geronimo grand slam to left center.
Camree Wartman added a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the fourth while Barak tacked on an unearned run in the sixth for GCU but Seattle U would hold on for a 7-4 win.
Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) earned the win in the circle for Seattle U, allowing four runs on five hits while walking and striking out two apiece. Sugita struck out two batters and gave up just one hit in two relief innings.
Bailey Bergman, the Lopes’ starting pitcher, suffered the loss allowing three runs on four hits while facing just six batters.