SEATTLE — Powered by an 11-hit performance, Seattle U baseball recorded a Western Athletic Conference series win on Monday, as it downed New Mexico State, 6-1. With the result, the Redhawks, who improved to 8-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play, notched their first series win over the Aggies since 2015.
Six Redhawks tallied a hit in the series finale, as SU out hit NM State, 11-9. With three hits apiece, Julian Kodama and Shane Jamison led the way. Kodama finished with five official at-bats, while Jamison was credited with four. Kyle Sherick went 2-for-3, while Chase Wells, Derek Gellos and Matt Boissoneault filled out the balance.
Seattle U jumped out to an early advantage plating two runs in the first inning and never looked back. Kodama accounted for the game's first run as he was driven in by Connor O'Brien. Justin Mazzone also scored on the play, coming in from second, thanks to an errant throw to first.
In the second, NMSU cut the lead in half with back-to-back-back two-out singles. The Redhawks answered back in the home half though as Jamison recorded his first career RBI in an SU jersey, as Wells came across to make it 3-1.
The Redhawk advantage then grew 5-1 after the fifth. Kodama pushed Sherick in for his ninth RBI of the season during the fourth, while gutsy base running saw Boissoneault steal home in the fifth.
After being left hitless in the sixth and seventh, Wells and Jamison logged back-to-back singles to lead of the eight. With runners at first and third, Sherick laid down a bunt down the first base line, allowing Wells to race in from third. The Redhawks then loaded the bases and threatened to add even more, but the offense stalled with back-to-back outs.
On the mound, starter Riley Sinclair put together a solid performance tossing 4 2/3 innings. The freshman righty surrendered five hits during the first two frames before retiring six of the next seven batters faced. Sinclair finished with three strikeouts and four walks. Reliever Peter Chronowski (1-1) worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings and was credited with the win, before making way for Brady Liddle who accounted for the last six outs.
The Redhawks will have a short turnaround before their next series, as they travel to the Rocky Mountain State for a four-game set with Northern Colorado. First pitch of the series opener is slated for 1 pm PT on Thursday, April 1.