By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Jade Smith (Jr., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) threw the first five innings of the opener and the first four innings of the second game to earn both wins as Willamette University defeated University of Puget Sound, 2-1 and 8-0, on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the WU Softball Field. The second game was ended by the run rule with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Overall, three Willamette pitchers held the Loggers to a total of four hits on the day, allowing just two hits in each game.
The Bearcats, playing their first games of the season, ended the doubleheader at 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound fell to 0-6 overall, 0-2 in the NWC. The teams are scheduled to finish the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 28, starting at 12 p.m. (PST).
Willamette Rallies from Early Deficit to Win First Game
A solo home run by Jaci Young of Puget Sound with one out in the first inning of the opening game gave the Loggers a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Kayla Andrus walked and Jessica Shimoda singled through the left side of the infield. Jessica Gott grounded out to end the threat.
The Bearcats rallied for the win with one run in the fourth inning and another run in the fifth.
Victoria Bradshaw (Sr., RF/P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) belted a double to left field to start the fourth inning. She moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielder's choice later in the stanza.
In the fifth, Ashley Pender (Sr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) reached base on a fielder's choice and scored on an infield single by Mallory Asaro (Jr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS).
The two runs were all the Bearcats needed to win the game. After Smith threw the first five innings, Reanna Lancaster (Fr., P, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) went to the circle for Willamette and pitched the final two innings. She allowed no hits and walked one batter. Lancaster recorded her first save.
Catcher Alex Shields (Jr., Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) of Willamette was 2 for 3 with a double at the plate. The Bearcats earned a total of seven hits during the game, with five players recording one hit apiece.
Asaro Goes 3 for 3 to Lead Willamette's Offense in Game 2
While the Bearcat pitching staff continued to limit Puget Sound in the second game, it was Asaro who paced the offense, as she went 3 for 3 with double, a run and two RBIs. Bradshaw was 2 for 2 with a triple and a walk, while Pender contributed a 2-for-4 performance with a pair of runs and two RBIs.
Willamette snagged an early 3-0 lead with a trio of runs in the bottom of the first. Danielle Saunders (So., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) walked and Pender reached base on an unsuccessful fielder's choice one out later. Asaro doubled to left field to score Saunders. A wild pitch sent Pender across the plate and moved Asaro to second. Katie Hammitt (So., DH/OF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) drove in Asaro with a single though the left side.
After UPS threw out Hammitt on an attempted steal, Bradshaw tripled to left. A pop-up on the infield ended the inning.
Pender singled in the third inning and reached second on a wild pitch. She scored on a single by Asaro, giving WU a 4-0 advantage.
Willamette tacked on two runs in the fourth inning, before completing the run-rule win with two runs in the sixth.
Bradshaw singled and Dunn was hit by a pitch to start the fourth stanza. Each runner advanced on a wild pitch. Bradshaw was thrown out at home and Dunn reached third when Moore hit into a fielder's choice. Dunn scored from third on a double-steal while Moore went to second. Moor later scored on a single by Shields.
Alexia Pratt (Jr., CF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) was hit by a pitch as the first batter in the bottom of the sixth. Saunders reached base on a fielding error at shortstop and Promise Burnett (Fr., C, Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) loaded the bases with a single. Pender followed with a single through the left side to score both Saunders and Burnett with no outs.
Smith improved her record to 2-0 with the pitching victory. She allowed just one hit in four innings, while earning one strikeout. Lancaster gave up one walk and held the Loggers scoreless and hitless in the fifth. Makayla Hari (Jr., P, Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) allowed one hit while pitching the sixth inning. On offense, the Bearcats pounded out 10 hits.
For Puget Sound, Erica Gott was 1 for 3, including a two-out, bases-empty double in the fourth. Kasey Stern registered the Loggers' other hit, a single in the sixth.
