Women’s Golf
At the 2024 Bobcat Desert Classic in Goodyear, Ariz., April 8-10, Seattle University Women’s Golf secured second place out of 17 teams. The team was spearheaded by Junior Rivekka Jumagulova’s stellar performance, which earned her medalist honors with a record-setting 54-hole total of 12-under.
Jumagulova’s outstanding play, characterized by a remarkable short game and consistent birdies, propelled Seattle U to a new program record of eight-under 856, cementing their status as formidable contenders in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team will finish their season at the WAC Championships April 19-21 in Payson, Ariz.
Softball
Seattle U Softball kicked off their seven-game road trip with a tough 3-0 loss against Washington April 8. Despite a strong pitching performance from Junior pitcher Nicola Simpson, who kept the Huskies at bay until the final inning, the Redhawks couldn’t generate enough offense to secure the win. Seattle U’s best opportunity to score came in the final inning, but they couldn’t capitalize, ultimately falling short.
Seattle U Softball (18-24, 10-7 WAC) moved on to a three-game series at Southern Utah April 12-13, splitting the opening double-header with a 16-4 victory in five innings and a 5-7 defeat in the final matchup. Sophomore infielder Taylor Fitch and Freshman infielder Mikee Morris showcased their skill by earning 10 hits in 14 at-bats and 11 RBIs in the two games.
The team then won their fourth-straight WAC series by defeating Southern Utah 12-5 in the third game April 13. Freshman catcher Karen Spadafora and Junior outfielder Tai Wilson led the offensive charge, combining for six hits and three RBIs. After falling behind early, Seattle U rallied in the second inning, scoring three runs to take the lead. They extended their advantage with runs in the third and fourth innings. Senior pitcher Stefanie Madrigal secured her 10th win, pitching 5.1 innings with just two earned runs allowed and three strikeouts, showcasing her consistency in pivotal WAC games.
The late-season push has been heartening for head coach Geoff Hirai.
“This team started slow, but we have the talent and look to make waves moving forward,” Hirai wrote to The Spectator.
Women Tennis
In a challenging matchup against UT Arlington, Seattle U Women’s Tennis faced a tough defeat April 9, with a final score of 6-1. They maintained their .500 mark, though, with a conference record of 3-3 and an overall season record of 8-8. Despite valiant efforts in both doubles and singles play, including Freshman Lamija Avdic’s lone victory, the Redhawks fell short against their opponents.
However, they closed out their regular season with a thrilling 4-3 triumph over Utah Tech April 13, securing a conference record of 4-3 and an overall record of 9-8. Despite a setback in doubles play, the team rallied in singles competition to clinch the win, with pivotal victories from Junior Liliya Dimova, Freshman Anastasia Nikolova, and Sophomore Lola Tavcar. With this momentum-building win, Seattle U enters postseason play aiming to carry their success into the upcoming conference championships, which begins April 18 in Harlingen, Texas.
Men’s Tennis
Seattle U Men’s Tennis faced a challenging weekend, first falling to Grand Canyon with a score of 7-0 in their April 12 matchup. Despite efforts in doubles, including close matches from Junior Filip Stipic and Redshirt Junior Jun Sasagawa, the Redhawks couldn’t secure a win. In singles, they faced tough competition, with losses across the board.
They bounced back for their final regular-season match against UT Arlington, where they secured a 5-2 win, aided by solid doubles performances from Sasagawa, Juniors Veselin Kiselkov and Michael Frank and Senior Julian Worn. Though they faced setbacks in singles, including defeats for Sasagawa and Worn, Kiselkov’s win by retirement offered a bright spot. With the regular season concluded, the Redhawks now prepare for postseason play in the upcoming WAC tournament from April 18 to April 20 in Harlingen, Texas.
Baseball
Seattle U Baseball’s rollercoaster weekend began with a thrilling 7-6 victory over intra-city rivals Washington April 9, marked by Freshman utility player Sam Kane’s clutch 2-run homer in the eighth inning. However, their momentum was short-lived as they faced a tough setback in a 14-2 defeat against Sacramento State in the first game of their series April 12. Despite an early lead, the Redhawks struggled to contain the Hornets’ offense, which earned a run-rule win in just eight innings
The challenges continued as Seattle U suffered consecutive losses against Sacramento State to complete the sweep April 13 and 14, including a tough 9-0 defeat in game two, where they struggled to generate offense against solid pitching. Despite late-game resilience, they fell short, setting the stage for a series sweep in a disappointing 8-5 loss in the final game. Despite an early 4-run inning, the Redhawks couldn’t maintain momentum as the Hornets’ bats heated up again. With the series loss, Seattle U sits at 9-27 (3-12 WAC) on the season as their time to regain momentum in conference play grows short.
