IRVINE, Calif. – The Sonoma State softball team opened their 2022 campaign on Friday with a pair of games at the Concordia Kick-Off Classic.  The Seawolves split their matchups, taking down Hawaii Pacific 4-3 before falling to Azusa Pacific 11-3 in the nightcap.
 
SSU started strong against the Sharks, scoring three runs in the second inning to take an early lead.  Courtney Jack plated the first two runs of the season for the Seawolves ripping a double to left center to score Briana Avalos and Giana Hays.  Sierra Moffett followed with a sacrifice fly to score Reagan Hunt and make it 3-0.
 
Starting pitcher Jesse Dupuis kept Hawaii Pacific off the board through three innings but the Sharks got going in the fourth.  HPU picked up three hits in the inning, tying the game with three runs.  Camille Rodrigues finished the fourth in the circle for the Seawolves, recording the final two outs. 
 
From there, Rodrigues blanked the Sharks for the next three innings and sent the game to the bottom of the seventh still tied at 3-3.  Jack led off the frame with single and advanced to second beating out a throw on a bunt by Moffett.  Anna Zoia-Buescher followed with a bunt single of her own to load the bases.  Rylee Nishimoto would end the game on a groundball that was mishandled by the third baseman, scoring Jack for the walk-off win. 
 
The Seawolves picked up six hits for the game with Jack leading the way with two hits and two RBIs.  Rodrigues earned the first win of the season with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
 
In the nightcap Sonoma State once again scored first, this time plating a run in the top of the first.  Hays doubled, moving Nishimoto to third who would later score on a wild pitch.  Azusa Pacific answered back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs off Nichole Sarra to take a 3-1 advantage. 
 
The Seawolves pulled even in the third inning with a pair of runs to make it 3-3 with the Cougars.  Nishimoto led with a single and advanced to second on an error.  Hays followed with a single but Nishimoto was thrown out giving the Seawolves two runners in scoring position.  Jordyn Martinez laid down a bunt single to score Cassidy Romano before pulling off a double steal with Hays to tie the game. 
 
APU pulled away in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs in the third and four more in the fifth to end the game at 11-3. 
 
Zoia-Buescher and Hays finished the game with a pair of hits each to lead the Seawolves offense.  SSU is back in action tomorrow for a pair of games as they take on Biola and Northwest Nazarene. 
 
Live stats links are available at www.sonomaseawolves.com for both games.