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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University took an early lead in both games and received a four-hitter form each starting pitcher, as the Bearcats opened a four-game series with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Whitworth University, 3-1 and 4-1, on Friday, April 6 at the WU Softball Field.

The Bearcats advanced their record to 16-8 overall, 15-4 in the Northwest Conference. Whitworth fell to 17-17 overall, including 10-12 in the NWC.

Willamette senior second baseman Susie Krewer (Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS) blasted a solo homer in the second inning of the nightcap for the top hit of the day.

In the first game, Jessica Barry (Jr., LF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS/UNLV) smacked a leadoff triple left field in the first inning and Heather Winslow (Fr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) connected for a triple to center field in the third inning.

Berry's triple led to a quick scored moments later, as a wild pitch allowed her to cross the plate. Three consecutive outs ended the threat, but Willamette held a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates opened the second inning with a bunt single by Sacha Clow that took a curving hop away from Willamette pitcher Hayley Glantz (Fr., RHP, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS). Glantz struck out catcher Jessica Ross, but walked Whitney Byrom.

The next batter, Makenzie Hope, hit a short grounder inside the foul line toward third. She reached base on a fielder's choice when the Bearcats just missed throwing out Clow at third. Barry ended the inning by catching Hanna Boyd's fly ball in left field and then throwing to catcher Kelli Snyder (Jr., Longview, WA/Kelso HS), who tagged out Clow at the plate.

Willamette tacked on two unearned runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Barry reached first base and advanced to second when the shortstop committed a fielding error on a soft line drive.

Suzannah Von Trapp (Sr., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) followed with a bunt single that rolled on the plate before Ross threw to first. After Von Trapp beat the throw, first baseman Julia Johnson sent the ball back to Ross, but Barry also beat the throw as she touched home plate. Winslow's triple to center brought home Von Trapp, as Willamette claimed a 3-0 advantage.

Whitworth tallied an unearned run of its own in the fifth inning.

Hope opened the stanza by reaching first on an infield hit to shortstop. One out later, Sami Parr grounded out to advance Hope to second. Caylan Haehl hit a bunt single to third. Hope reached third base, and scored when Theresa Martin (Fr., 3B, Modesto, CA/Johansen HS) was unable to handle the throw.

Ross of Whitworth hit a two-out double in the sixth, but Byrom flied out to Martin at third base, as Willamette kept its 3-1 lead. Glantz faced just three batters in the top of the seventh to lock down the win. She improved to 5-5.

Von Trapp and Mica Romero (Sr., SS, Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian HS) each went 2 for 3 at the plate for Willamette in the opener. Von Trapp scored once and drove in one run. Barry led all players with two runs scored.

Back-to-back singles by Von Trapp and Winslow helped the Bearcats score a run in the first inning of the second game. Von Trapp went from first to third on Winslow's single. When Winslow stole second base while Martin was batting, Von Trapp scored on the throw. Krewer's one-out homer to left field in the second inning increased Willamette's lead to 2-0.

The score remained the same until the sixth inning, but Whitworth left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Johnson hit a single and Clow reached base on an error to begin the frame. With two outs and runners at second and third, pinch-hitter Ashlyn Mundo was hit by a pitch. Alex Watilo (Sr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) forced Brittany Wisner to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

Snyder provided an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth, as the Bearcats extended their lead to 4-0. Winslow, who singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Martin, also scored during the inning.

Whitworth got the bases loaded with one out in the top of the seventh. Peyton McMahon drove in Clow with a sacrifice fly to left field, but Parr hit a groundout toward Watilo to end the game.

Watilo registered the win and improved to 11-3 on the season. She struck out two batters and did not allow a walk. Winslow and Snyder each went 2 for 3 for the Bearcats.

Pitcher Taylor Gilbert of Whitworth, who began the day with an 8-1 record, took both losses for the Pirates. She gave up six hits in six innings in the opener and allowed seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in the second game. Riley Fritz tossed the final 2/3 of an inning.

The teams will complete the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 7. First pitch at the WU Softball Field is slated for 12 p.m. (PDT).