CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - Seattle University softball’s (9-5) comeback bid fell a run shy against San Diego State (10-4) 7-6 in day two’s opening contest before the Redhawks edged out UC San Diego (10-5) 7-6 in their second game on Saturday afternoon at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Junior Karen Spadafora led the Redhawks against the Aztecs, collecting three hits while scoring two runs. Spadafora tallied two hits that went for extra bases, including a solo shot home run. She grabbed five put outs to lead the defense and also logged an assist.
Senior Taylor Fitch was the second Redhawk to post a multi-hit game against San Diego State, recording two hits while pacing the team with three RBI. She nabbed her 10th home run of the season in the effort while leading the defense with three assists and five put outs.
Graduate Jay Ross, junior Avari Morris, senior Avaa Sin and sophomore Abbie Fales each posted a hit in the contest, while Fales led the group with two RBI.
Freshman Kaia Galaviz earned the start from the circle, pitching 2.0 innings. She faced 13 batters and struck out one before junior Ellie Bostedt pitched the remaining 4.0 innings. Bostedt faced 17 batters and struck out three.
The Aztecs struck first off a sac fly to take an early lead before Spadafora leveled the game with a first pitch homer out of center field in the top of the second. San Diego State responded with a four run inning to lead SU 5-1 after the second. The Aztecs led by five runs after the third before the Redhawks got two back in the top of the fourth.
Sin capitalized on the Aztec error to reach first before Spadafora moved her into scoring position with a double. Fales drew up the 2 RBI single to score both Spadafora and Sin to pull back within three. San Diego State grabbed its third home run of the day in the bottom of the fourth to lead 7-3
San Diego would not score another run through the remainder of the contest as Bostedt struck out one in the bottom of the fifth and the Redhawk outfield clamped down on the Aztecs in the sixth. The Redhawks got two on facing an out in a do or die inning, as a Ross single got two runners on for Fitch. The shortstop slammed home run number 10 of the year to score the trio of Redhawks to make it a one run contest, but the Aztecs shut down the comeback bid 7-6 in the top of the seventh.
The Redhawks returned just after noon to take on future conference opponent UC San Diego at DesMoines Field. Junior Mikee Morris guided the Redhawks with three hits, two RBI, three runs and a home run. Sister junior Avari Morris posted two hits, including a double, while scoring two runs. Fitch rounded the trio of Redhawks with multi-hit performances against the Tritons. She recorded two hits, four RBI, and a home run.
Sin, Spadafora and Ross all tallied hits in the game. Spadafora led the defense with six put outs. Guiding the team from the circle was Avari Morris and junior Berkley Vance. Morris collected the win after pitching 4.0 innings and striking out four. Vance earned the save after pitching the remaining 3.0 innings. She struck out two.
The Redhawks struck first in the after Avari Morris and Mikee Morris reached base after a walk and single respectively. Facing no outs, Fitch delivered her 11th home run of the season to score the twins to put SU up 3-0 after the first.
The Morris’ return to base with back-to-back singles in the top of the second after facing two outs. Fitch came up once more to score Avari with an RBI single and Sin pushed the lead to five with an RBI double. UC San Diego struck for the first time in the bottom of the second, getting two runs through. The Tritons followed up with a home run to pull within two in the bottom of the third before Avari handed out the final out with a K.
Kissling kicked off the fourth inning with a single to left. Mikee Morris returned to bat and hammered her second home run in as many days to push the Redhawks back up by four. The Tritons got two back in the bottom of the fourth and scored their final run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth. Both teams were held scoreless in the final two innings. UC San Diego got two runners on in the final frame but the Redhawk outfield and Spadafora teamed up for the three outs to preserve SU’s 7-6 victory over the Tritons.
Seattle U wraps up the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic taking on No. 6 Nebraska on Sunday morning at 9 AM. Streaming is available on FloCollege.
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