LAS VEGAS - Seattle University softball (4-3) secured the program’s first meeting against Quinnipiac (0-1), surging to the 13-1 victory in five innings behind a grand slam from senior Taylor Fitch after the Redhawks fell to UC Davis (4-2) 5-1 in game one of the UNLV Desert Classic on Friday afternoon.
Senior Ava Sin guided the Redhawks to open the morning against the Aggies, recording two hits, including a home run. In the last five games, including her two home run performance against North Dakota, Sin has sent out four home runs. She ties Fitch for most home runs recorded on the season.
Sin tallied two hits, including a double alongside her home run, against UC Davis. Junior Avari Morris and graduate Jay Ross rounded out the trio of Redhawks with hits against the Aggies.
On the defensive end, junior Karen Spadafora led the team with seven put outs while senior Brooklyn Jones paced the team with two assists.
Junior Berkley Vance earned the start in the circle against the Aggies. She pitched for 2.2 innings and faced 18 batters while striking our two. Junior Ellie Bostedt pitched the remaining 3.1 innings. She faced 14 batters and struck out four without conceding a run.
The Aggies struck first in the top of the first before Sin responded with her home run to cut UC Davis’ lead in half. The Aggies burst through for three more runs in the bottom of the third and held the Redhawks scoreless through the final four frames.
Seattle U returned shortly after for its second game of the day, clashing against Quinnipiac for the first time in program history.
Fitch led the Redhawks with two hits, including a double and home run, three runs and 4 RBI. Morris also tallied multiple hits for extra bases, recording a double and triple. She also scored three runs. Ross rounded out the trio collecting two hits. She grabbed 2 RBI and scored a run.
Sin tallied three more RBI while recording a double and scoring two runs. Spadafora notched two RBI and a hit in two at bats. She matched freshman Audrey Borup, sophomore Abbie Fales and Ross with three putouts against the Bobcats. Ross led the team with two assists.
Freshman Kaia Galaviz guided the team from the circle, collecting her first win of her collegiate career. She pitched 4.0 innings and faced 16 batters while striking out three. She only allowed one run that was unearned. Sophomore Maya Mesa pitched the final 1.0 inning and faced four batters.
Morris opened the contest with a triple to set up Ross’ RBI single for the first score of the contest. The Redhawk defense rattled off four three straight innings without giving up a run.
In the top of the third, the Redhawks posted four runs behind doubles from Morris and Sin. With the bases loaded, Sin sent out her 3 RBI double to left center to score junior Sophia Kissling, Morris and Fitch. Spadafora followed up Sin with an RBI single to score Sin from second. The Redhawks led 5-0 after the third. Quinnipiac would score its lone run in the bottom of the fourth off an RBI single.
Seattle U put up eight runs in the top of the fifth. Fitch started the inning with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Sin was walked to put two runners on with no outs as Spadafora earned the sacrifice fly to score Fitch. Jones singled to get two runners on for Fales to double to center to score Sin from second. Kissling was walked to load the bases and Morris was walked to score Jones. Ross singled down the left field line to score Fales to keep the bases loaded for Fitch. Up 2-0 in the count, Fitch hammered out her fourth home run of the season to deep left field for the grand slam.
Mesa and the Redhawk defense shut the door on the contest with three straight outs after allowing a hit from the Bobcats to bounce back into the win column 13-1.
The Redhawks return to action tomorrow for a rematch against UC Davis. They wrap Saturday with a 3 PM game against host UNLV.
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