By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- Just past the first quarter of Northwest Conference play, the Willamette University softball team will travel this weekend, as the Bearcats head up to Washington to take on University of Puget Sound on Saturday, March 14 before battling Pacific Lutheran on Sunday, March 15. Each day will feature doubleheaders starting at 12 p.m. (PST).

So far on the season, the Bearcats hold a 1-13 overall record and are 1-7 in conference play after falling last weekends to Pacific University and George Fox University.

Despite dropping four games, the team saw prominent play from Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) and Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS).

For the weekend, Ramirez batted .500 (6 for 12) while belting her second home run of the season and recording three runs batted in. This season, Ramirez leads the team with a .500 (14 for 28) batting average, two home runs, and seven RBIs. She is slugging an outstanding .750, while holding down the leadoff position at the top of the lineup.

Winlsow hit .300 (3 of 10) last weekend including a 2-for-2 effort in the second game against George Fox in which she also scored a run. She is the team's leader with eight stolen bases and is hitting .278 with three doubles and six RBIs. She has played well on defense at first base with 92 putouts and a .981 fielding percentage.

Some other impressive performances over the weekend came from Mallory Asaro So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) and Erin Norris (Sr., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS).

In her two starts in the Saturday doubleheader against Pacific, Asaro went 2 for 4 while recording four putouts and two assists at shortstop. Through 11 games played, she is batting .269 and has hit two doubles. On defense, she is second on the team with 19 assists and a .973 fielding percentage.

Norris came up big in the Bearcats' first game at George Fox, blasting a pinch-hit, three-RBI triple. On the year, Norris leads the team in walks and has hit one home run to go along with five RBIs.

In their first matchup this weekend, Willamette will take on Puget Sound, which currently owns an identical 1-13 overall and 1-7 NWC record. Last season, the Bearcats took three of four game from the Loggers, splitting the two games in Tacoma, Wash.

As a team, UPS is hitting .237 and is led by Kristi Nagamine (So., OF) and Bailee Larson (So., C). Nagamine is batting .317 (13 for 41) with five runs scored and four RBIs. Larson owns an average of .323 (10 of 31) and has belted two home runs, while slugging .516 in her 12 games played.

Other contributors on offense for the Loggers have been Lisa Colombo (Jr., INF), who holds a .263 (10 for 38) batting average and leads the team with seven runs scored, along with Erica Gott (Fr., P/INF), who is tied for the team lead with two home runs. Gott also has recorded a double and a triple, while leading the team with six RBIs.

As for pitching, the primary UPS starters have been Jaci Young (So., P/OF) and Kayla Andrus (Jr., P). Young currently holds a 8.48 ERA in 33 innings thrown while Andrus has garnered a 6.11 ERA over her 36 2/3 innings of work.

Willamette's opponent on Sunday, Pacific Lutheran, is currently 4-8 overall with a 3-5 conference record. Last season, the Bearcats took three out of four from the Lutes, taking one of two contests when the Bearcats traveled to Parkland, Wash.

Through their first 12 games, the Lutes are led on offense by Sydney Smythe (Fr., OF/C) and Jessica Alcomendas (Fr., OF). Both freshmen are hitting .286 and have each slugged one home run. Smythe leads the team with five doubles, while Alcomendas is second on the team with five runs scored.

In the circle for Pacific Lutheran will be Marissa Miller (Fr., P) who owns a 2-4 record, while registering a 4.16 ERA in 38 2/3 innings pitched. She has tallied 27 strikeouts and has thrown four complete games.