In the opening day of the series versus Northern Colorado, Seattle University softball dropped both contests to the Bears, 7-6 in game one and 2-0 in game two.
Game 1 - Northern Colorado 7, Seattle U 6
Seattle U got on the board early with three runs in the bottom of the first on a single by Lisa Maulden (Maple Valley, Wash.) and a two-run single by Karina Smyth (San Luis Obispo, Calif.).
Northern Colorado answered back, adding two of their own in the second inning, but the Redhawks held on to a 4-2 lead going into the fourth inning.
The Bears came out with dominating at bats in the fifth, adding five runs to the board, thanks in part to a three-run home run by Mikayla Duffy. Seattle U added two more runs in the bottom of the inning, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the Bears took the 7-6 win.
Richelle Ashburn (Post Falls, Idaho) was handed the loss in the start for the Redhawks, giving up six runs on eight hits, while walking two and striking out five in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) came in in relief and gave up one run on four hits while walking and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings pitched.
Megan Wilkinson earned the win for Northern Colorado, giving up six runs on nine hits, while walking one and striking out three in five innings pitched. Jamie Pollak entered in relief and earned her first save of the season, allowing just three hits in two innings pitched.
Game 2 - Northern Colorado 2, Seattle U 0
Game two was offensively quiet for each team as Northern Colorado recorded only five hits and Seattle U recorded one through six innings. The Bears were able to add one more hit and drive two unearned runs home in the inning and that was enough to give them the 2-0 win in game two on the day.
Sarah Petosa (Auburn, Wash.) rode a 19-game hitting streak into game two, but was not able to extend the streak, going 0-for-3 at the plate.
Mandie Sugita (Rossmoor, Calif.) started in the circle for the Redhawks and was handed the loss, giving up two runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out two. Sugita had previously pitched 22.2 scoreless innings until the top of the seventh.
Duffy got the start and win in the circle for Northern Colorado, giving up just one hit, while walking four and striking out one in six innings pitched. Wilkinson pitched one relief inning and notched the save, facing just three batters.
Seattle U (15-26) and Northern Colorado (23-27) finish the series with a doubleheader on Sunday, Apr. 29 starting at 11 a.m. In between contests, the Redhawks will honor Hannah Klein in a Senior Day celebration.
