SAN DIEGO - Seattle University softball (19-31, 5-12 WCC) battled back from a seven run deficit to pull within a score while holding San Diego (20-30, 6-11 WCC) scoreless in the final four innings but the Redhawks could not complete the comeback, falling 8-7 to the Toreros inside Reggie Smith Softball Complex on Friday evening.
Three Redhawks recorded multi-hit days, with senior Ava Sin leading the trio with two hits, including her 20th double of the season, and two RBI. Sin’s double tied the single season program doubles record (20), matching Madison Cathcart who set the record in 2018. Senior Taylor Fitch and graduate Jay Ross matched Sin with two hits and two RBI.
Junior Avari Morris led the team with three runs, matching her career high she set earlier this season. Fellow junior Sophia Kissling also tallied multiple runs, scoring twice in the contest.
Leading from the circle was sophomore Maya Mesa, who pitched 4.1 innings on the contest. She faced 21 batters, struck out two and did not concede a run through all 4.1 innings of work. Freshman Kaia Galaviz earned the start from the circle and tossed 1.2 innings. She faced 14 batters and struck out one.
Aiding the defense was Ross, who led the team with five putouts at first base. Fitch led the team with three assists while Ross recorded two.
Morris led off the day with a trek to first on a five pitch walk before Sin entered the batter’s box facing two outs. Sin delivered her 20th double of the season to score Morris from first to give the Redhawks the lead in the first inning. Galaviz faced four in the bottom of the first and struck out one to preserve the early 1-0 SU advantage.
The Toreros responded by sending down the next three SU batters before turning on the offensive in the bottom of the second. San Diego scored eight runs to lead 8-1 after two frames.
After facing a similar deficit the day prior, the Redhawks settled in and began chipping at the USD lead. Morris drew her second walk in the top of the third before back to back singles from Ross and Fitch loaded the bases. Facing one out, Sin scored Morris with an RBI base hit to center. The Toreros would get a pair in scoring position in the bottom of the third before the Redhawks shut them down with back to back outs.
Facing two outs in the fourth, Kissling singled before the bases were loaded with back to back walks for Morris and Ross. Fitch sent out the 2 RBI single to score both Kissling and Morris to pull the Redhawks within four. The Toreros threatened with two runners in the bottom of the fourth, but Mesa and the infield would send down the next three batters to keep USD scoreless.
Seattle U saw its most fruitful inning in the top of the fifth. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Morris drew her third walk of the contest to score senior Brooklyn Jones from third facing two outs. Ross crafted a 2 RBI single to score freshman Aurora Zepeda and Kissling to pull the Redhawks within a run before the Toreros stopped the surge with the final out.
The Redhawks kept the contest close in the bottom of the sixth, keeping the Toreros scoreless. Neither team would score in the sixth as the Redhawks looked to their final three batters to keep the game going. San Diego halted the comeback to defeat SU 8-7.
Seattle U and the Toreros square off tomorrow afternoon for the regular season finale.
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