By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- In its first games at home this season, the Willamette University softball team will face off against Pacific University on Saturday, Mar. 7 before traveling to Newburg, Ore., to battle George Fox University on Sunday, Mar. 8. Both days the Bearcats will play doubleheaders set to start at 12 p.m. (PST) on Saturday and 12 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday.

Last weekend, the Bearcats took one of four games from Whitworth University, capturing their first win of the season with strong performances from both Jade Smith(So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) and Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) in a 3-1 victory in the first game on Sunday.

Smith picked up the win after pitching all seven innings and allowing seven hits with only one extra-base hit and no walks. She also pitched well in the team's 3-0 loss to the Pirates on Saturday. On the weekend, she tallied a 1.62 earned run average over 13.0 innings with two strikeouts and three walks.

Ramirez hit .571 during the weekend (4 for 7) with a double, a home run, one run scored, one walk and three RBI's. She played in three out of the four games and recorded at least one hit in each game. She blasted a two-run homer to cap a three-run fifth inning, which eventually led to Willamette's win. She also achieved four putouts over the weekend while patrolling the outfield.

Other contributors this past weekend were Heather Winslow(Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) and Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS).

Winslow hit an RBI double in the fifth inning of the only win for WU while also stealing three bases in the series and is now hitting .304 (7 for 23) with a team-high six RBIs. Lathrop, over three games against the Pirates, hit .500 (4 for 8) while scoring two runs and driving in one run.

Also, Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS), Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) and Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) all hit .273 (3 for 11) in the series, while Rieger and Asaro each recorded a double and a run scored.

In their first matchup this weekend, Willamette will take on Pacific, which currently owns a 9-5 overall record and a 2-2 NWC record. Last season, the Bearcats took three of four from the Boxers, winning both games at home.

As a team, Pacific is hitting .364 and is led by Kylee Yamamoto (Jr., OF) and Rachel Roberts (Jr., INF). Yamamoto is batting .394 (13 for 33) with two doubles, two triples, and a home run. Roberts owns an average of .364 (16 of 44) and has scored 13 runs along with swiping an NWC-best 14 bases.

Other big bats for the Boxers are Quirena Natividad (Jr., INF), who is tied for the conference lead with six doubles, along with Ashley Mitchell (Jr., INF), who is tied for the conference lead with 17 RBIs. Mitchell has belted two home runs, while Natividad has hit two triples.

As for pitching, Pacific has seen quality starts from Marissa Reichard (Jr., P) and Jessica Hotaling (Jr., P/OF). Reichard is currently second in the conference with a 0.78 earned run average in 36 innings pitched and has thrown two complete games. Hotaling has recorded a 2.91 ERA over 33 2/3 innings while striking out 14 batters.

Willamette's opponent on Sunday, George Fox, currentlysits atop the NWC with an undefeated 4-0 conference record while also holding an 8-2 overall record.

Last year, the Bearcats split the season series at two wins apiece with both victories coming on the road and both losses coming at home.

Through their first 10 games, the Bruins are led on offense by Kayla Anderson (Jr., INF). She is second in the NWC in batting .500 (18 for 36) and is tied for the conference lead with 17 RBIs. She has scored 13 runs while hitting four home runs and four doubles. Annie Veach (Fr., UT) is hitting .471 in limited at bats (8 for 17) with six runs and seven RBIs.

In the circle for George Fox will be Abbie Bergerson (Fr., RHP) who owns a 5-0 record, while recording a 1.25 ERA in 33 2/3 innings pitched. She has tallied 14 strikeouts and has thrown three complete games.