Tempe, Ariz. — Even in games when she’s not in the circle, reigning National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie is still proving to be the most dominating player on the field.
Lawrie blasted two home runs and drove in a career-high six runs as the No. 1 Huskies outslugged Cal State Northridge, 10-5, on Saturday in the Kajikawa Classic.
The Huskies (4-0) pounded out 12 hits and scored a season-high 10 runs, mostly thanks to their senior superstar, who hit a two-run home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the fourth, her second career multi-homer game and second career grand slam.
Freshman Baily Harris earned her second career victory, coming on in relief of sophomore Jenna Clifton to throw four innings, allowing three runs on five hits to improve to 2-0.
Lawrie got the Huskies on the board in the first inning with a little help from her Canadian countrywoman Jenn Salling, who laced a two-out single to right field to set the table. Lawrie then launched a deep ball over the centerfield fence to give UW the early 2-0 lead.
Northridge (1-3) would come right back and score two runs of their own in the top of the second, but the Huskies answered when sophomore Niki Williams ripped her first home run of the season to centerfield.
The Matadors would take the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run but the Huskies broke things open in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs to take the lead for good, four of which came off the bat of Lawrie.
Junior Morgan Stuart started things off with a leadoff double and pinch runner Maggie Wager would later come around to score on an RBI single by Ashley Tuiasosopo. After Kimi Pohlman singled to move Tuiasosopo to second, the pair moved up a base on a wild pitch before Jerrin Fa’asua walked to load the bases. One batter later, Lawrie stepped up and again sent one over the centerfield fence for her first grand slam since last year’s College World Series semifinals.
UW added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Pohlman led off with a double and Amanda Fleischman and Salling each walked which set up an opportunity for Lawrie to break UW’s single-game RBI record. Although the senior was unable to deliver, freshman Shawna Wright came through with a two-out, two-run single to break the game open.
Wright has six RBI in her first weekend of collegiate play, second only to Lawrie on the team. She also impressed with her defense on Saturday, picking a runner off at second base in the first inning and also throwing out a runner attempting to steal later in the game.
Lawrie was one of four Husky players with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with the six RBI. Pohlman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the leadoff spot, Stuart went 2-for-4 and Williams was 2-for-2.
The Huskies will look to wrap up a perfect opening weekend in defense of their national title on Sunday when they play Notre Dame.
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