SEATTLE - Seattle University softball (7-3) carries a four game winning streak into one of collegiate softball’s premiere tournaments, the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, where the Redhawks will square off with elite competition, including a No. 8 ranked Nebraska, over the course of the weekend in Palm Springs, California. Competition begins for Seattle U on Friday, February 20 against former WAC foe California Baptist.
Two Redhawks, seniors Taylor Fitch and Ava Sin, were named to the Mary Nutter Player Watchlist ahead of the tournament. Fitch leads the Redhawks and the West Coast Conference in batting average (.533), slugging percentage (1.233), runs (17) and RBIs (18) after two weeks of action. She ranks fourth in the conference in hits with 16 and second in the league in home runs with six.
On the national stage, Fitch ranks sixth in the country in home runs, tied-39th in hits, tied-10th in RBIs, 13th in slugging percentage and sixth in total bases (37).
Sin matches Fitch with 18 RBIs through ten games while holding a .406 batting average after 32 at bats. The designated hitter ranks third in the league in home runs (4) and doubles (4), while combining for 13 hits on the season. Her .906 slugging percentage sits third amongst WCC hitters. Sin also ranks amongst the best in the nation alongside Fitch, tying-10th in the country in RBIs.
Junior Avari Morris aids Seattle U’s potent offense, recording a .514 batting average after 35 at bats. The dual threat also ranks top-five in the WCC in wins (2) from the circle and strikeouts (14). Morris has accrued 15 runs, a team leading 18 hits, five doubles, a triple and eight RBI on the season, ranking top-3 in each of the aforementioned statistical categories. Morris ranks tied-14th in the nation in hits.
Junior Karen Spadafora ranks top-15 in the conference alongside Sin, Morris and Fitch. The catcher has recorded a .360 batting average in nine games, recording nine hits, six runs and 10 RBI. Graduate Jay Ross rounds out the top-25 in the WCC batting .300 in nine names. Ross has posted nine hits, six runs, and six RBI in her first two weekends as a Redhawk.
Leading from the circle is junior Berkley Vance. Through four appearances, Vance has guided the Redhawks to three wins while pitching 23.2 innings. Vance has struck out a team leading 20 batters, a feat that ranks third in the WCC. Morris leads the team with her 1.87 ERA, ranking seventh in the conference. Vance ranks 12th with a 2.66 ERA.
Spadafora aids the offense with a team leading 48 putouts this season. Ross aids primarily from first with 39 putouts. Fitch ranks third in the WCC in assists with 21.
The Redhawks have a combined .338 batting average through ten games totaling 95 hits after 281 at bats. They have recorded a conference leading 81 runs, 23 doubles and 79 RBI. Defensively, SU has struck out a total of 49 batters, averaging 5.36 strikeouts in seven inning contests. Seattle U ranks tied-36th in the nation in hits, tied-43rd in home runs (12), 14th in RBIs and tied-23rd in total runs scored.
Seattle U kicks off the weekend against former conference mate California Baptist. The two meet for the 23rd time in program history. The Redhawks hold the series edge 14-8 and secured the series finale a season ago at home.
SU meets CSUN for the 14th time in program history after splitting a pair of contests a season ago. The Redhawks trail the all-time series 3-10.
Saturday features a pair of San Diego schools as the Redhawks face future WCC opponent UC San Diego and San Diego State. The Redhawks and the Aztecs meet for the second time in program history. SU trails the all-time series 0-1. SU and UC San Diego clash for the fifth time in program history, with the Redhawks searching for their first program win.
The Redhawks wrap the weekend against No. 8 ranked Nebraska, their 51st ranked opponent since 2009. They go for their first ranked win since 2020 when they defeated then ranked No. 18 Missouri 3-1. Seattle U and Nebraska have met only one time, with the Cornhuskers securing the lone meeting in 2018 by a 3-2 decision.
Following the weekend, the Redhawks travel back to Southern California for the Judi Garman Classic hosted by CSU Fullerton. They’ll face BYU, California, East Texas A&M, No. 7 ranked UCLA and host CSU Fullerton. Seattle U debuts the first weekend of March to host Montana for a four game series at Logan Field.
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