By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University left fielder Danielle Saunders (So., Salem, OR/McNary HS) named Northwest Conference Softball Position Player Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Bearcats' four victories over University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28.

Saunders batted .583 (7 for 12) as Willamette opened the season by sweeping the Loggers. She scored six runs and recorded six RBIs during the NWC series. She hit one double and one home run, walked three times, and was 1 for 1 on stolen bases.

In the first game on Saturday, she was 1 for 2 with a walk. In the second game, she walked and scored two runs. Willamette defeated Puget Sound, 2-1 and 8-0 on the run rule in six innings.

During Sunday's doubleheader, Saunders went 3 for 4 in each game. She smacked a two-run homer in the fifth inning of the first game to give Willamette a 3-1 lead on its way to an 8-3 win. She also hit a double and finished the game with four RBIs. In the second game, she walked, scored three runs, earned two more RBIs, and stole a base, as the Bearcats triumphed, 8-2.

Saunders helped the Bearcats hit .369 as a team during the weekend. The Bearcats scored 26 runs, earned 23 RBIs and pounded out 11 extra-base hits. WU was 14 for 16 on stolen base attempts.

Willamette, which opened its season against the Loggers, is 4-0 overall and 4-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats will take on Linfield College in a four-game NWC series this coming weekend. The teams will play doubleheaders on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 with the action getting underway in McMinnville, Oregon, at 12 p.m. (PST) each day.