By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

CLACKAMAS, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team was in action during the Northwest Cup on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Hood View Park. The Bearcats, who compete in NCAA Division III, dropped games to NAIA teams from the Oregon Institute of Technology and Concordia University. OIT defeated the Bearcats, 9-0,on the run rule in five innings, while Concordia won 8-3.

The Bearcats fell to 0-4 to begin their season. Both OIT and Concordia started their seasons earlier, and improved to 7-1 and 11-1, respectively.

Willamette was held to two hits in the first game against OIT, and the Bearcats gave up nine hits to the Lady Yotes during the loss. College of Idaho was greatly aided by the play of their starting pitcher, Rylee Carleton, who pitched all five innings with three strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning, The Lady Owls jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, scoring six runs on only three hits. They added three more runs in the fifth inning to defeat Willamette by way of the run rule.

Willamette's hits came from Kelli Snyder (Sr., C,Longview, WA/Kelso HS) and Mackenzie Wasley (Fr., INF, Reno, NV/Galena HS).

In the second game, both Willamette and Concordia remained scoreless through the first two innings. Concordia took the lead in the third inning. The Cavaliers loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. Concordia's Tobey Varney then hit a grand slam to put the Cavaliers ahead.

Willamette battled back in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, a single from Erin Norris (So., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) and a double fromYvonne Drabin (Sr., OF,Fremont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) put two runners in scoring position. Allie Martin (Jr., UTL,Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) then hit an RBI single to put the Bearcats on the board.

Willamette added two runs in the fifth inning.Ashley Pender (Fr., INF,Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) hit a home run over left center field with one out to make the score 4-2.Courtney Galli (Sr., 1B,Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) then doubled to left center, and scored at the next at-bat when Snyder also doubled.

Concordia answered in the sixth inning with four runs to take an 8-3 lead. Cassidy Horner hit a lead off home run. Taylor Copher also hit a two RBI double, as well as a sacrifice fly from Varney.

Norris led the Bearcats, going 2-2 at the plate.Erin Bueser (Fr., P,Mill Creek, WA/Henry M. Jackson HS) gave up five hits in four innings, including one strikeout.

Willamette will host Northwest Conference rival George Fox University this weekend, Feb. 23-24. The series will be the conference and home opener for the Bearcats.