SEATTLE - Striking first in both contests, the Seattle U softball team (24-21, 9-11 WAC) built leads early but could not ice out Utah Valley (14-28, 7-12 WAC) in the 2-1 then 4-2 decisions at Logan Field on Friday evening.
The Redhawks combined for four hits, no errors and a run to start the day, with senior Tai Wilson leading the charge with a hit and a run scored. Fellow senior Nicola Simpson picked up the RBI off of her single. Sophomore sisters Avari Morris and Mikee Morris recorded the final two hits between the pair.
Defensively, sophomore Karen Spadafora led the charge with seven putouts in the contest, with graduate Jasmine Wehn locking up six.
Simpson earned the start from the circle and pitched the opening 2.0 innings. In that time span, she faced seven batters and struck out two of them, only allowing one hit. Sophomore Berkley Vance came in for the remaining 5.0 innings. She faced 19 batters and struck out five, allowing four hits and two runs.
After three scoreless frames, during which neither team sent up more than four batters, the Redhawks jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth after orchestrating a run kick started by a single by Wilson. SU got two runners on after a Utah Valley error before Simpson delivered the RBI single through the right side.
Vance composed a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth backed by the Redhawk defense before the Wolverines scored two in the top of the sixth behind two hits and a wild pitch. They would not relent the lead, striking down the attempted comeback by the Redhawks to take game one 2-1.
Following shortly after in game two, the Redhawks combined for seven hits and two runs. Three Redhawks went for multi-hits in the contest, with Wilson leading the charge with two hits and two runs in three at bats. Mikee Morris also knocked out two hits, while Wehn wrapped up the trio with two hits and an RBI. Spadafora recorded the final hit on the day, while Simpson was credited the second RBI.
Wehn led the defense with nine putouts, while Mikee Morris paced the team with five assists.
Leading from the circle and pitching all 7.0 innings of the contest was senior Naomi Chaidez. She faced 30 batters and struck out two of them, while only walking one. Of the four runs scored, only one was earned.
The Redhawks kicked off the game with an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Chaidez picked up her strikeouts in the top of the first inning. Wilson was the first to reach base off a hit through the right side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After junior Taylor Fitch was walked, Wehn singled through to right field to load the bases facing one out. Wilson scored from third after the Wolverines went for the out at second, allowing Simpson to reach first.
Utah Valley immediately responded with a run in the top of the first before posting an additional three runs following a home run shot out of right field. That would be the lone inning the Wolverines would score as Chaidez and the defense held them scoreless through the remainder.
Seattle U struck again in the top of the fifth, with Wilson getting on board again off a bunt single. Fitch was walked once more to put two runners on before Wehn scored Wilson with her RBI single through the right side. Wilson's quick feet beat out the attempted out at home to pull the Redhawks within two, 4-2.
The Redhawks turned a double play to keep the Wolverines from striking in the top of the sixth before sending down all three of the remaining Wolverine batters. Mikee Morris got on in the top of the seventh to keep the game alive but Utah Valley would halt the comeback off the next three batters and take game two 4-2.
Seattle U returns to Logan Field tomorrow at 1 PM for its home season finale. The Redhawks will celebrate their six seniors following the contest, recognizing Naomi Chaidez, KJ Hopfer, Amanda Morris, Nicola Simpson, Jasmine Wehn and Tai Wilson.
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The Redhawks combined for four hits, no errors and a run to start the day, with senior Tai Wilson leading the charge with a hit and a run scored. Fellow senior Nicola Simpson picked up the RBI off of her single. Sophomore sisters Avari Morris and Mikee Morris recorded the final two hits between the pair.
Defensively, sophomore Karen Spadafora led the charge with seven putouts in the contest, with graduate Jasmine Wehn locking up six.
Simpson earned the start from the circle and pitched the opening 2.0 innings. In that time span, she faced seven batters and struck out two of them, only allowing one hit. Sophomore Berkley Vance came in for the remaining 5.0 innings. She faced 19 batters and struck out five, allowing four hits and two runs.
After three scoreless frames, during which neither team sent up more than four batters, the Redhawks jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth after orchestrating a run kick started by a single by Wilson. SU got two runners on after a Utah Valley error before Simpson delivered the RBI single through the right side.
Vance composed a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth backed by the Redhawk defense before the Wolverines scored two in the top of the sixth behind two hits and a wild pitch. They would not relent the lead, striking down the attempted comeback by the Redhawks to take game one 2-1.
Following shortly after in game two, the Redhawks combined for seven hits and two runs. Three Redhawks went for multi-hits in the contest, with Wilson leading the charge with two hits and two runs in three at bats. Mikee Morris also knocked out two hits, while Wehn wrapped up the trio with two hits and an RBI. Spadafora recorded the final hit on the day, while Simpson was credited the second RBI.
Wehn led the defense with nine putouts, while Mikee Morris paced the team with five assists.
Leading from the circle and pitching all 7.0 innings of the contest was senior Naomi Chaidez. She faced 30 batters and struck out two of them, while only walking one. Of the four runs scored, only one was earned.
The Redhawks kicked off the game with an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Chaidez picked up her strikeouts in the top of the first inning. Wilson was the first to reach base off a hit through the right side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After junior Taylor Fitch was walked, Wehn singled through to right field to load the bases facing one out. Wilson scored from third after the Wolverines went for the out at second, allowing Simpson to reach first.
Utah Valley immediately responded with a run in the top of the first before posting an additional three runs following a home run shot out of right field. That would be the lone inning the Wolverines would score as Chaidez and the defense held them scoreless through the remainder.
Seattle U struck again in the top of the fifth, with Wilson getting on board again off a bunt single. Fitch was walked once more to put two runners on before Wehn scored Wilson with her RBI single through the right side. Wilson's quick feet beat out the attempted out at home to pull the Redhawks within two, 4-2.
The Redhawks turned a double play to keep the Wolverines from striking in the top of the sixth before sending down all three of the remaining Wolverine batters. Mikee Morris got on in the top of the seventh to keep the game alive but Utah Valley would halt the comeback off the next three batters and take game two 4-2.
Seattle U returns to Logan Field tomorrow at 1 PM for its home season finale. The Redhawks will celebrate their six seniors following the contest, recognizing Naomi Chaidez, KJ Hopfer, Amanda Morris, Nicola Simpson, Jasmine Wehn and Tai Wilson.
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.