Seattle University softball (15-33, 4-9 WAC) played Bakersfield (18-23, 6-8 WAC) to a close contest in game one before dropping the decision late in the game, 11-9. The Redhawks would rebound in game two to earn a 7-2 victory.
“I was very happy to see us bounce back after giving the first game away,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Alyssa [Reuble] tossed a solid game and our defense and bats had her back. We are looking clean things up and win the series tomorrow.”
The Redhawks and Roadrunners will play for the series victory on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. This year’s senior class will be honored following the game.
Game 1: Bakersfield 11, Seattle U 9
The Roadrunners took a 2-0 lead in their first at bat on a fielder’s choice and single to left field before the Redhawks cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the frame on a bomb to left center from Isabella Geronimo (San Mateo, Calif.).
SU gained the lead, 4-2, an inning later on a trio of singles before losing and regaining the lead in the third. The ‘Runners and Redhawks scored five runs apiece in the third, SU’s on a pair of hits before leaving two on base to lead 9-7.
Leaving two on base in the fifth, SU couldn’t advance runners further for the remainder of the game as all of their scoring would come in the first three innings. Bakersfield plated an additional two runners apiece in the fourth and seventh innings. As the score was tied, 9-9, through six, the Roadrunners scored two in the seventh, which proved to be the winning runs.
Geronimo and Maddy Kristjanson (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) hit 2-for-3 for the Redhawks while Rose Saenz (San Gabriel, Calif.) hit 3-for-4.
Lyndsay Klimenko picked up the win in the circle for Bakersfield allowing three hits while walking and striking out two apiece in 4 2/3 innings of work. Lindsay Davis (Palo Cedro, Calif.) suffered the loss in relief allowing four runs on five hits while walking one in 4 2/3 innings pitched.
Game 2: Seattle U 7, Bakersfield 2
The Redhawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks in part to RBI doubles by Molly Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) and Breanna Timmons (Santa Maria, Calif.) and single down the left field line by Paige Bouska (Keizer, Ore.).
Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) crushed a homer in the third and the Redhawks drove home two more runs in the fifth on a single and a double.
Bakersfield scored two in a home run by Selena Gonzalez in the third, but left a runner apiece on in three of the remaining four innings.
Campbell, Timmons, Maulden, and Morrow each hit 2-for-3 at the plate for Seattle U as the Redhawks outhit Bakersfield, 11-8.
Alyssa Reuble (Lynnwood, Wash.) earned the complete game win allowing two runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out five. Klimenko suffered the loss for CSUB, allowing all seven runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one in the start.