OMAHA, Neb. - Seattle University softball (14-19) struck early against Creighton (18-18) but saw its early lead slip as the Redhawks fell 12-6 to the Bluejays in the series finale inside Creighton Softball Stadium on Saturday morning.
Junior Mikee Morris led the Redhawks with two hits, both for extra bases, including her sixth home run of the season. Morris paced the team with two runs, two assists and 3 RBI. Junior Sophia also recorded a multi-hit performance, posting two hits in two at bats. Kissling scored one run and led the team with five putouts defensively.
Seven more Redhawks recorded hits on the day as Seattle U recorded 11 total hits on the day. Senior Brooklyn Jones posted one hit that went for extra bases, while freshmen pinch hitters Oona Capristo and Aurora Zepeda had singles in one plate appearance each.
Leading from the circle and tossing the bulk of the contest was sophomore Maya Mesa. She threw 4.0 innings and faced 21 batters while striking out two. Junior Berkley Vance earned the start and pitched 2.0 innings. Vance faced 16 batters.
Morris struck first to lead off the day with her sixth home run this season for the early 1-0 Redhawks lead. The Redhawks got two more runners on off a fielder’s choice and single from Graduate Jay Ross. Creighton responded with a home run of its own in the bottom of the first to take the lead 3-1.
After Jones drew a walk in the second, Kissling singled to advance the second baseman into scoring position for Morris’ second plate appearance. The shortstop crafted the 2 RBI double before moving into third off the throw. Junior Avari Morris earned the RBI on the ground out to score her sister to put Seattle U back on top 4-3. Creighton came back with two runs in the bottom of the second to lead the Redhawks by a run.
The Bluejays had their most fruitful inning in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs to lead the Redhawks 9-3 before Mesa helped lead a scoreless inning in the fourth. Senior Taylor Fitch led off the fifth inning with a walk before senior Ava Sin reached on a fielder’s choice. Ross drew a walk to get two runners on and a wild pitch advanced both Ross and Sin into scoring position. Sophomore Abbie Fales got to walk to first to load the bases facing two outs before Jones earned the RBI after drawing a walk. The Redhawks trailed 9-4 into the middle of the fifth.
Creighton scored its final three runs in the bottom of the fifth, with the Redhawks escaping the inning off a strikeout from Mesa and another out from Kissling in center field. Mesa and the outfield clamped down in the bottom of the sixth to force three up, three down to keep the Bluejays scoreless and the game alive.
Facing one out, junior Karen Spadafora singled through the right side to get a runner on for the attempted comeback. Freshman Jaeden Sajec entered to run for the SU catcher. With two outs, Capristo pinch hit and singled down the left field line to advance Sajec to second. Zepeda followed suit with a single to left to score Sajec from second to bring the Redhawks within six and back to the top of the order. Creighton forced the final out from right field to capture the 12-6 victory over the Redhawks.
Seattle U returns to action next week to kick off its first season of conference play, traveling to Stockton, California for a three game series against Pacific.
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