Simon Fraser University equaled its win total for all of last season with a pair of wins over Brigham Young University Hawaii Seasiders in women’s softball last Tuesday, taking the opener 9-1 and coming back to win the night cap 10-6 at the BYUH campus field.
Simon Fraser improved its record to 4-2 overall, equaling its win total from last year when the squad finished 4-35.
In the opener, SFU blew open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits and then added a single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth for the 9-1 win.
With two out in the p[ivotal third, sophomore Kendra Goodman singled to left field and then advanced to third on a throwing error on which freshman Taylor Gillis reached base. Goodman then stole home for the first run to ignite the Clan rally.
Run-scoring singles from first baseman Alex Baylak and shortstop Danielle Raison pushed the lead to three, although the Clan left three players stranded in the inning.
SFU tagged the Seasiders for 14 hits with multiple hit performances by Baylak, right fielder Rachel Proctor, Raison and third base Stefanie Sheard.
Clan starting pitcher Jessica Goulet went the distance, scattering eight hits, with one strikeout to even her record at 1-1 this season.
“It was a gutsy performance by Jessica, who wasn’t on her game but still managed to pitch us in and out of trouble,” said Clan head coach Mike Renney in a Clan press release. “We got enough timely hits to give us the cushion we needed in a game that was closer than the score would indicate.”
Simon Fraser jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then hung on to defeat the Seasiders 10-6 in the second game.
Trailing 5-0 after two, BYU Hawaii came back to tie the game with three runs in the second, and then scored two more in the third to chase starting freshman pitcher Alia Stachoski.
Goulet came on in the third to close out the inning and end the Seasiders rally.
“We are a young team and we have to learn to put teams away when we have a 5-0 lead,” said Renney. “We let BYUH back in the game and all of the momentum shifted their way, but we managed to regain our composure and prevail.”
The Clan came back to score two runs in the sixth and added three in the seventh for the victory. Sophomore outfielder Robyn Mogavero doubled to right centre field off starting Brigham Young pitcher Destyni Valencia to score two runners in the top of the sixth.
The Seasiders picked up one run in the bottom of the sixth to narrow the margin to one.
SFU scored three in the top of the seventh and then Kelsie Hawkins retired the next three batters to end the game.
All three Clan pitchers went two and one-third innings, with Hawkins giving up three hits and one run, while striking out two for her second win of the season. Goulet gave up two hits, while striking out two and Stachoski gave up four hits and five runs.
SFU scored 10 runs on 13 hits.
Earlier, SFU got solid pitching and timely hitting as it swept a softball doubleheader against Chaminade University Silverswords, 4-3 in extra innings and 10-0, on Monday.
Baylak doubled to right field, scoring Raison from second for the game-winning run as the Clan scored twice in the top of the 10th for its first victory of the season.
Last year, Simon Fraser lost its first 19 games to start the season and did not win its first game until March 21.
