PHOENIX - Seattle U softball (23-16, 8-6 WAC) battled current WAC leader Grand Canyon (32-6, 11-2 WAC) in the opening series' doubleheader but came up short in 12-4 and 12-2 decisions at GCU Softball Stadium on Friday night.
The Redhawks combined for 11 hits, six runs and six RBI on the day.
In the opening game, all seven hits were recorded by seven different Redhawks, with sophomore Mikee Morris leading the way with a double and two runs. Junior Taylor Fitch recorded her tenth home run of the season and tacked on four more RBIs in the effort. Freshman Camryn Johnson matched Morris, also going for extra bases to finish the day one of one.
Leading from the circle to start the evening was senior Naomi Chaidez. She pitched 5.1 innings and faced 41 batters while striking out a season high five of them.
The Redhawks struck first after Morris led off with a double. Senior Tai Wilson advanced her to third after grounding out to second, before Fitch picked up her first RBI of the day with the exact play as Wilson. GCU responded with four runs in the bottom of the first behind a 3 RBI homer and a sacrifice fly. Chaidez ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
After SU was held scoreless in the second, the Lopes tacked on another run in the bottom of the second. Chaidez responded by handing out two more strikeouts in the bottom of third. The Lopes scored the bulk of their runs in the bottom of fourth to threaten the run rule, but the Redhawks pushed right back in the top of the fifth.
Johnson led off with a double to move immediately into scoring position before advancing to third off a wild pitch. Junior Brooklyn Jones recorded a single facing one out after senior Amanda Morris got on base with a fielder's choice. Facing two outs, Fitch stepped up and hammered a home run down the left line to score both Amanda and Mikee.
With the game still alive, SU got a runner on in the sixth but GCU took the contest in the bottom of the sixth with a walk off walk.
Returning half an hour later, the Redhawks recorded four hits and two runs in game two of the doubleheader. All four hits came from four different Redhawks. Three of the four hits were doubles.
Senior Nicola Simpson recorded a double in three at bats, tacking on an RBI. Fitch and graduate Jasmine Wehn also hit out doubles. The pair each scored a run. Sophomore Avari Morris rounded out the group, recording a hit and an RBI.
Morris led the team from the circle pitching 5.1 innings. She faced 31 batters and struck out five of them.
Morris opened the day handing out two strikeouts in the bottom of the first. Once again the Redhawks struck first offensively starting with a double by Wehn. She advanced to third off a wild pitch before Avari stepped up to the plate facing two outs. She singled out to left field to score Wehn to claim the early 1-0 lead. GCU responded with three runs in the bottom of the second before following up with a similar effort in the bottom of the third.
Seattle U got another run through in the top of the fourth behind two doubles. Fitch led off with a double before Simpson scored her with an RBI double facing one out. The Redhawk defense sent down the next three GCU batters, keeping the Lopes scoreless through the next two frames. GCU flipped a 180 in the bottom of the sixth, taking game two after another six run inning.
The Redhawks return tomorrow afternoon for the final contest of the three game series against the Lopes at GCU Softball Stadium.
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The Redhawks combined for 11 hits, six runs and six RBI on the day.
In the opening game, all seven hits were recorded by seven different Redhawks, with sophomore Mikee Morris leading the way with a double and two runs. Junior Taylor Fitch recorded her tenth home run of the season and tacked on four more RBIs in the effort. Freshman Camryn Johnson matched Morris, also going for extra bases to finish the day one of one.
Leading from the circle to start the evening was senior Naomi Chaidez. She pitched 5.1 innings and faced 41 batters while striking out a season high five of them.
The Redhawks struck first after Morris led off with a double. Senior Tai Wilson advanced her to third after grounding out to second, before Fitch picked up her first RBI of the day with the exact play as Wilson. GCU responded with four runs in the bottom of the first behind a 3 RBI homer and a sacrifice fly. Chaidez ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
After SU was held scoreless in the second, the Lopes tacked on another run in the bottom of the second. Chaidez responded by handing out two more strikeouts in the bottom of third. The Lopes scored the bulk of their runs in the bottom of fourth to threaten the run rule, but the Redhawks pushed right back in the top of the fifth.
Johnson led off with a double to move immediately into scoring position before advancing to third off a wild pitch. Junior Brooklyn Jones recorded a single facing one out after senior Amanda Morris got on base with a fielder's choice. Facing two outs, Fitch stepped up and hammered a home run down the left line to score both Amanda and Mikee.
With the game still alive, SU got a runner on in the sixth but GCU took the contest in the bottom of the sixth with a walk off walk.
Returning half an hour later, the Redhawks recorded four hits and two runs in game two of the doubleheader. All four hits came from four different Redhawks. Three of the four hits were doubles.
Senior Nicola Simpson recorded a double in three at bats, tacking on an RBI. Fitch and graduate Jasmine Wehn also hit out doubles. The pair each scored a run. Sophomore Avari Morris rounded out the group, recording a hit and an RBI.
Morris led the team from the circle pitching 5.1 innings. She faced 31 batters and struck out five of them.
Morris opened the day handing out two strikeouts in the bottom of the first. Once again the Redhawks struck first offensively starting with a double by Wehn. She advanced to third off a wild pitch before Avari stepped up to the plate facing two outs. She singled out to left field to score Wehn to claim the early 1-0 lead. GCU responded with three runs in the bottom of the second before following up with a similar effort in the bottom of the third.
Seattle U got another run through in the top of the fourth behind two doubles. Fitch led off with a double before Simpson scored her with an RBI double facing one out. The Redhawk defense sent down the next three GCU batters, keeping the Lopes scoreless through the next two frames. GCU flipped a 180 in the bottom of the sixth, taking game two after another six run inning.
The Redhawks return tomorrow afternoon for the final contest of the three game series against the Lopes at GCU Softball Stadium.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U softball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.