KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Seattle University softball (14-32, 3-8 WAC) nearly made a comeback in game one, falling 3-2, before dropping game two, 9-1, due to a pair of three-run homers for Kansas City (24-24, 4-7 WAC).
“Bubba [Morrow] had a nice day at the plate but we couldn’t string together our hits,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Our pitchers got the ball up in the zone and their hitters took advantage of our mistakes.”
Saturday’s series finale is currently set for 12pm CT/10 am PT, but the schedule is subject to change due to weather. Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com as well as @su_athletics on Twitter for all the latest schedule updates for the Redhawks.
Game 1: UMKC 3, SU 2
Brooke Parker scored an early run to put the ‘Roos up 1-0 in the bottom of the first while the Redhawks had their first significant scoring opportunity in the fourth, but left the bases loaded. UMKC tacked on two more in the bottom of the same frame to take a 3-0 lead as Marlee Maples, the second batter up, drove in Cinda Ramos on a two-run homer.
Erika Rodgers (Glendora, Calif.) was stranded in scoring position to end the fifth before Seattle U scored two in the sixth on a Bubba Morrow (Auburn, Wash.) blast to left field to score Rose Saenz (San Gabriel, Calif.). The Redhawks started the near comeback attempt in the seventh, as runners reached first and second with two outs, but could not bring them home.
Morrow hit 2-for-2 at the plate for Seattle U with a run and two RBI in a nearly even hitting contest, UMKC coming out on top, 7-6. Paige Bouska (Keizer, Ore.) extended her hitting streak to 15 games before it was snapped in game two of the doubleheader.
In the circle, Amber Grove picked up the win for UMKC allowing two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out one in six innings of work while Ramos picked up her first save of the season, facing five batters.
Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) suffered the loss in the start for Seattle U, giving up all three runs on seven this while walking and striking out two batters apiece.
Game 2: UMKC 9, SU 1 (5 innings)
Scoreless through the first two innings, the Redhawks took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI double to right center from Morrow, scoring Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.), but SU would quickly lose the lead for good on two big innings for UMKC.
The ‘Roos scored five in the third, thanks in part to a Caitlin Christopher three-run homer, and four more in the fourth on another three-run homer by Katie Kelley.
For the second straight game, Morrow hit 2-for-2 at the plate, bringing the day’s two-game total to a perfect 4-for-4. The senior catcher also increased her SU career doubles record to 36 and counting.
Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) gave up five runs on seven hits while walking and striking out one batter apiece in the loss for SU while Kelley picked up the win in the circle for UMKC allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out three.