By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Junior shortstop Mica Romero (Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian School) from Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Softball Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for games played between March 28 and April 3. Romero hit .600 during the week (12 of 20), while scoring 12 runs and earning five RBIs.

Romero helped Willamette go 5-1 during the week. Her efforts helped the Bearcats improve to 13-12 overall, 10-7 in the NWC.

During the week, Romero earned two or more hits in four of the six games, while going 3 for 3 once and 3 for 4 once. She also scored at least one run in five of the six contests.

In the first game of a four-game series with Lewis & Clark College, she had three hits and three RBIs. In the third game against the Pioneers, she recorded three hits, scored four runs and earned two RBIs.

Romero pounded out five extra-base hits in Willamette's six games, with two doubles, one triple and two home runs. She achieved an impressive 1.100 slugging percentage.

Willamette split a doubleheader with George Fox University on Thursday, March 31, as the Bearcats won the opener, 7-3, and lost the second game, 4-3. O

On Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, Willamette took four games from Lewis & Clark. On Saturday, WU defeated L&C by the run rule in five innings in both games, winning 12-1 and 9-1. On Sunday, the Bearcats rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win the first game, 8-5, and pulled away in the final innings of the second game for 9-2 win.

Romero is Willamette's top hitter with a .419 batting average this season. She also leads the team with 32 runs scored, four homers and a .716 slugging percentage.

The Bearcats are scheduled to play a four-game series at the WU Softball Field against nearby rival Linfield College on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. Linfield, ranked #1 in NCAA Division III with a 29-2 overall record, holds first place in the NWC standings at 18-1.