Softball

2007-08 Softball News

  • Franchi Selected First Team All-America
    May 16, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior softball player Nikki Franchi (RHP/DP, Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) has been named First Team All-America as a utility player by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America Team for NCAA Division III honored a total of 15 players on the First Team, plus 15 players each on the Second Team and a Third Team.
  • Franchi Selected First Team All-West Region by NFCA
    May 07, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University right-handed pitcher and designated player Nikki Franchi (Jr., Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) has been named First Team All-West Region for the 2008 season, as selected by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Franchi was chosen as a utility player due to her outstanding hitting and pitching statistics. Katie Peterson (So., Independence, OR/Central HS) of Willamette, who played right field for the Bearcats, was named Second Team All-Region.
  • NWC Coaches Choose Franchi as Softball Player of the Year
    May 06, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Nikki Franchi (Jr., RHP/DP, Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) of Willamette University, who led the Northwest Conference with a .518 batting average and earned a 19-4 pitching record, has been selected NWC Softball Player of the Year in voting by the NWC head coaches. Franchi also was named First Team All-NWC, along with fellow Willamette players Liz Gilgan (Sr., SS, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) and Katie Peterson (So., RF, Independence, OR/Central HS).
  • Willamette Splits Twilight Doubleheader at Pacific
    April 29, 2008
    FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Willamette University and Pacific University split a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 29, as the Boxers claimed a 3-1 win in the first game and the Bearcats rallied for a 9-2 victory in the second game, in Northwest Conference action at Sherman/Larkins Stadium. Willamette concluded the regular season at 25-11, 19-9 in the NWC. Pacific moved to 30-8 overall, 19-7 in the Northwest Conference.
  • Bearcats Defeat Linfield, 6-5, in First Game of Doubleheader
    April 27, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University, ranked #24 in NCAA Division III, broke a 5-5 tie on an RBI single by LaShawna Holcomb (Jr., CF, Renton, WA/Hazen HS) with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Bearcats defeated #3-ranked Linfield College, 6-5, in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, April 27. The Wildcats won the second game, 7-1, to gain a split at the WU Softball Field.
  • Softball Doubleheader versus Linfield will be Webcast on Sunday, April 27
    April 27, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's softball doubleheader with arch rival Linfield College at the WU Softball Field on Sunday, April 27 will be broadcast live on the Internet. Full Access Sports will provide the webcast of both games, as the 24th-ranked Bearcats take on the 3rd-ranked Wildcats in Northwest Conference action. Live Stats also will be available for both games.
  • Linfield Scores Three Runs in First Inning to Defeat Bearcats, 3-1, in Series Opener
    April 26, 2008
    McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Linfield College scored three runs in the first inning to take an early lead, as the Wildcats and star pitcher Brittany Miller defeated visiting Willamette University, 3-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 at the Linfield softball diamond. The Wildcats built a 9-2 lead and held off a late charge by the Bearcats to win the second game, 12-6.
  • Willamette is Ranked #24 in NCAA Division III Poll
    April 24, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team is ranked #24 in the nation in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Poll for NCAA Division III released on April 23. The Bearcats are 23-7 on the season, including 17-5 in the Northwest Conference.
  • Softball Games with Boxers Postponed by Weather
    April 23, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Due to heavy rain and windy conditions the doubleheader between Willamette University and Pacific University, originally scheduled to be played in Forest Grove, Ore., on March 1 has been postponed for the second time. The games were initially rescheduled for today (April 23), but the weather has forced an additional postponement.
  • Wallace Selected as NWC Softball Player of the Week
    April 23, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Nicole Wallace (So., C/2B, Roseville, CA/Roseville HS) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Softball Player of the Week for games played April 14-20, 2008. Wallace helped the Bearcats go 4-2 during the week to improve to 23-7 overall, 17-5 in the Northwest Conference.
  • WU Scores Nines Runs in Fifth Inning for 14-4 Win over Pirates
    April 20, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University, ranked #8 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, put nine runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away from Whitworth University, 14-4 on the run rule, in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, April 20 at the WU Softball Field. Whitworth plated five runs in the fifth inning of the second game to take a 9-2 lead on its way to a 10-6 victory.
  • Bearcats Sweep Whitworth, 17-3 and 6-4
    April 19, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University swept a Northwest Conference doubleheader from Whitworth University on Saturday, April 19 at the WU Softball Field, winning the first game 17-3 on the run rule in five innings and taking the second game 6-4. The Bearcats upped their record to 22-6, including 16-4 in the NWC. Whitworth ended the day at 13-18 on the season, 10-9 in the NWC.
  • Bearcats and Loggers Split Pair of Extra-Inning Games
    April 14, 2008
    TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University and the University of Puget Sound split a Northwest Conference double-header on Monday, April 14, with each team winning in extra-innings. Willamette won the first game, 4-3, in eight innings. The Loggers won the second game, 9-7, also in eight innings.
  • Bearcats and Lutes Split Doubleheader
    April 13, 2008
    The Bearcats hit three home runs during the doubleheader. In the first game, Liz Gilgan (Sr., SS, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) blasted her fifth homer of the year and LaShawna Holcomb (Jr., CF, Renton, WA/Hazen HS) smacked her sixth homer of the season. In the second game, Franchi hit her team-leading eighth home run of the season, a solo shot in the top of the first inning.
  • Bearcats Score 24 Runs in Doubleheader Sweep of UPS
    April 12, 2008
    TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University trailed in both games, but scored 24 runs on the day, as the Bearcats swept a doubleheader from the University of Puget Sound, 7-2 and 17-7, Saturday, April 12 at the Logger Softball Field. Junior pitcher Nikki Franchi (Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) recorded both wins and also hit for the cycle in the second game.
  • Bearcats and Boxers Reschedule Doubleheader
    April 09, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's doubleheader at Pacific University, originally scheduled for March 1, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m. (PDT) in Forest Grove, Ore. The doubleheader was initially set to open Pacific's new Sherman/Larkins Stadium, but construction not yet completed, so the teams were going to play on March 1 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.
  • Richards and Franchi Garner NWC Softball Weekly Awards
    April 08, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Junior first baseman Marissa Richards (Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) and senior right-handed pitcher Nikki Franchi (Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) helped Willamette University go 4-0 last week with doubleheader sweeps of Lewis & Clark College and George Fox University. Their efforts have earned the Bearcat duo the Northwest Conference Player of the Week awards in softball for the week ending April 6.
  • Willamette and Puget Sound Reschedule Rain-Out
    April 07, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and the University of Puget Sound have rescheduled their softball doubleheader that was rained out on March 15 in Salem, Ore. The doubleheader will now be played in Tacoma, Wash., on Monday, April 14.
  • Bearcats Blast Seven Homers in Softball Sweep of George Fox, 3-0 and 11-1
    April 06, 2008
    NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University hit a total of seven home runs in a doubleheader sweep of George Fox University on Sunday, April 6 at Morse Field. WU belted three solo homers to win the opener, 3-0. In the second game, the Bearcats hit four homers in an 11-1 win on the run rule in five innings.
  • Bearcats Sweep Lewis & Clark, 8-0 and 11-3
    April 05, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University swept a doubleheader from visiting Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, April 5, 8-0 on the run rule in six inning and 11-3 on the run rule in five innings. Willamette improved to 14-4 on the season, including 8-2 in the Northwest Conference.
  • Gilgan Hits Grand Slam in Eighth Inning to Send Willamette Past 16th-Ranked Wellesley, 4-0
    March 27, 2008
    RANGE, CALIF. -- Senior shortstop Liz Gilgan (Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS) hit a grand slam home run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to send Willamette University to a 4-0 victory over 16th-ranked Wellesley College (Mass.), in the Bearcats' final game at the Sun West Tournament on Thursday, March 27. In Willamette's first game on Thursday, the Bearcats were defeated by Hope International University (Calif.), 10-1, on the run rule in five innings.
  • Willamette Defeats Elmhurst, 9-0, and Chapman, 8-3, at Sun West Tournament
    March 26, 2008
    ORANGE, CALIF. -- Nikki Franchi (Jr., RHP/DP, Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) hit a home run in each game, leading Willamette University to a pair of wins at the Sun West Tournament on Wednesday, March 26. The Bearcats routed Elmhurst College (Ill.), 9-0, on the run rule in 4 1/2 innings, and defeated host Chapman University, 8-3.
  • Bearcats Defeat CSU-East Bay, Fall to Williams, at Sun West Tournament
    March 25, 2008
    ORANGE, CALIF. -- Pitcher Nikki Franchi (Jr., RHP, Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) struck out 10 batters in the first five innings and Nicole Wallace (2B/C, Roseville, CA/Roseville HS) blasted a grand slam, as the Bearcats routed Cal State-East Bay, 12-3, Tuesday, March 25 at the Sun West Tournament. In Willamette's second game, the Bearcats gave up five unearned runs in the first inning and fell to Williams College (Mass.), 6-3.
  • Franchi is Named NWC Softball Player of the Week
    March 20, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Junior right-handed pitcher and designated player Nikki Franchi (Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) has been chosen NWC Softball Player of the Week for her efforts during the week ending on Sunday, March 16, 2008. Franchi helped the Bearcats sweep a double-header with Pacific Lutheran University, as Willamette won 5-1 and 5-4 on Sunday at the WU Softball Field.
  • Willamette Sweeps Pacific Lutheran, 5-1 and 5-4
    March 16, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University pitcher and designated player Nikki Franchi (Jr., Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) recorded a win and a save, while going 5 for 6 at the plate, leading the Bearcats to a doubleheader sweep of Pacific Lutheran University, 5-1 and 5-4, Sunday, March 16 at the WU Softball Field. The pair of Northwest Conference wins improved the Bearcats to 8-2 overall, 6-2 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran fell to 10-8 overall, 8-4 in the NWC.
  • Softball Doubleheader with Puget Sound is Postponed
    March 15, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- The Northwest Conference doubleheader between softball teams from Willamette University and the University of Puget Sound scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at the WU Softball Field has been postponed due to the weather. No make-up date has been determined.
  • Franchi Chosen NWC Pitcher of the Week for Second Time in 2008
    March 11, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Nikki Franchi (Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) has been named Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 9, 2008. Franchi helped Willamette go 4-0 in a pair of NWC doubleheaders over the weekend.
  • Bearcats Pound George Fox, 11-1 (5 inn.) and 8-2
    March 09, 2008
    SALEM, ORE. -- Nikki Franchi (Jr., RHP, Los Gatos, CA/Saratoga HS) and Amy Valencia (Fr., RHP, Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne East HS) combined on a no-hitter in the first game and the Bearcats recorded 11 hits in the second game, as Willamette University swept a doubleheader from George Fox University, 11-1 (5 inn., run rule) and 8-2, Sunday, March 9 at the WU Softball Field. Willamette upped its record to 6-2 overall, 4-2 in the Northwest Conference. GFU fell to 0-14-1 overall, 0-8 in the NWC.
  • Bearcats Sweep Lewis & Clark, 8-0 and 13-3, in Pair of Run-Rule Games
    March 08, 2008
    PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University recorded two run-rule victories on Saturday, March 8, as the Bearcats needed just five innings in each contest to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 8-0 and 13-3, in a Northwest Conference doubleheader. WU improved to 4-2 on the season, including 2-2 in the NWC. The Pioneers dropped to 1-8 overall, 1-5 in the NWC.
  • Pacific Sweeps Bearcats in Pair of One-Run Games, 2-1 and 7-6 (9 innings)
    March 02, 2008
    McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Pacific University won a pitcher's duel in the first game, 2-1, then outscored Willamette University, 7-6 in nine innings, in the second contest, as the Boxers swept the Bearcats in a doubleheader at the Linfield Softball Field on Sunday, March 2. Pacific improved to 8-0 on the season, 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette went to 2-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.
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