By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- The Bearcats on the Willamette University softball team got off to a tremendous start last weekend by winning all four games in their season-opening series against Northwest Conference rival University of Puget Sound. Willamette outscored the Loggers 26-6 over the weekend, while earning eight runs in each of the final three games.
During the series, Willamette hit .369 with 11 extra-base hits. The Bearcats belted out eight doubles and two triples. Danielle Saunders (So., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS), who was chosen NWC Position Player Student-Athlete of the Week, smacked a two-run homer in the first game of the series.
Willamette ranks 14th in NCAA Division III in batting average. The Bearcats also are 13th in on-base percentage (.46) and are 23rd in slugging percentage (.515). WU is listed fifth nationally with 3.5 stolen bases per game after stealing 14 bases on 16 attempts against UPS.
Against the Loggers, Willamette registered 38 hits in 103 at bats. WU reached double digit hits in two games, producing 10 hits in the second game and chalking up 12 hits in the fourth game.
Leading the Bearcats in batting average was Mallory Asaro (Jr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) at .625, as she recorded five hits in eight at bats. Saunders followed at .583 with seven hits in 12 at bats. Promise Burnett (Fr., CF, Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) batted .500 (3 for 6). A total of six Bearcats with four or more at bats hit at least .400.
Asaro's batting average ranks 27th in the nation and leads the NWC. Saunders is ranked 41st nationally and second in the NWC. Both athletes are tied for the NWC lead with a .667 on-base percentage.
Saunders, who scored six runs and recorded six RBIs, is ranked 14th in Division III and leads the conference with 1.50 runs per game. She is 31st in the nation with 1.50 RBIs per game.
Ashley Pender (Sr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) scored five runs over the weekend and trailed only Saunders with four RBIs. Brunett also earned four RBIs against the Loggers.
Victoria Bradshaw (Sr., OF/P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) led the team with three stolen bases on three attempts. She is listed 26th in the nation with 0.75 stolen bases per game. Kathryn Moore (So., 3B, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) and Steffany Dunn (Jr., SS, Colfax, CA/Colfax HS) each went 2 for 2 on stolen bases.
Willamette edged past the Loggers 2-1 in the first game on Feb. 27. In the second game, the Bearcats won 8-0 on the run rule in six innings. On Feb. 28, WU defeated Puget Sound 8-3 and 8-2.
The Bearcats will play at archrival Linfield College on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6. Willamette will take on the Wildcats in a doubleheader each day starting at 12 p.m. (PST). Linfield is 5-3 on the season and 2-2 in the NWC after splitting four games with George Fox University.
