REDDING, Calif. - The 2024 opening day got underway today at Big League Dreams Park in Redding, CA for Simpson University as they took on #24 Eastern Oregon University and #2 Southern Oregon.
Freshman
Jacquelyn Lujan was given the opening day start for the Red Hawks.
Lujan had a solid outing in her first career collegiate start on the mound. She went 7.0 innings and allowed three runs and two earned while striking out six Mountaineers.
The game featured a strong pitching duel between both starters.
Lujan pulled a Houdini act in the top half of the second inning when she faced runners on first and third with no outs situation.
Lujan would limit the damage. She punched out the next two Mountaineer batters and forced a fly ball to escape the jam while giving up just one run.
However, the Mountaineers would tack on two more big insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings to close out the game, 3-0.
Marissa Ramirez recorded Simpson's lone hit of the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a line drive single into right field.
Game 2:
Senior
Kylee Potes earned the game 2 start on the mound for the Red Hawks as they took on defending NAIA National Champions Southern Oregon University.
The Raiders grabbed the early lead in the top half of the second inning before the Red Hawks tied the game in the bottom half of the inning.
The Red Hawks created traffic on the bases with singles by
Amy LeGrande and
Jessica Heck, a Caily Rizzardo hit by pitch, and two RBI walks by
Kayley Vaillette and
Marissa Ramirez.
However, the Raiders would plate three huge runs in the top of the third inning to grab the 5-2 lead.
Simpson put two runners on in the bottom of the fourth inning after a Vaillette walk and a
Kassandra Soria single.
Coach Stower called upon freshman pinch hitter
Madyson Welch to the plate as she represented the tying run.
In her first collegiate at-bat, Welch just missed a game-tying three-run homer by a matter of inches as the SOU center fielder made an outstanding play to rob Welch.
SOU added three more insurance runs in the coming innings to grab the 8-2 lead.
Cailey Rizzardo singled home
Hollee Jamison for the final run of the game.
LeGrande, Rizzardo, and
Marissa Ramirez each tallied two-hit performances while Vaillette and Heck each slashed singles.
Game 3:
Freshman
Katelyn Thomasson earned the start in the circle for the nightcap against Eastern Oregon.
Simpson would draw first blood in the bottom of the first on a
Madyson Welch RBI single that scored pinch runner
Hannah Hartsburg.
However, the pitching effort of Thomasson,
Jessica Ulshoeffer, and
Isabella Contreras could not slow down the Mountaineers offense.
Simpson would scratch one run in the fourth inning on a
Kimberlee Walston RBI triple that scored pinch runner
Jayden Bayani.
Walston would drive in the final Red Hawk run of the game in the sixth inning on a ground ball to the second baseman that scored pinch runner
Nicolena Holen.
The Red Hawks fought all day against some of the best teams in the nation and will look to be back on the field again tomorrow depending on the weather.
