By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University softball team completed the 2017 season ranked in the top 25 out of 415 teams in NCAA Division III in two key offensive categories. The Bearcats finished 23rd in the nation in stolen bases per game and ended the year 24th in home runs per game.

Willamette was successful on 76 stolen bases, as the Bearcats averaged 2.24 stolen bases per game. WU achieved a solid 84.4% success rate on stolen base attempts (76 of 90). The 76 stolen bases by the Bearcats ranked first in the Northwest Conference.

During the season, Willamette blasted 23 home runs and averaged 0.68 home runs per game. Steffany Dunn (Sr., RF, Colfax, CA/Colfax HS) led the way with seven homers. She ranked 58th in the NCAA with 0.21 home runs per game and was 86th in total homers.

Alex Shields (Sr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) was the Bearcats' top base stealer, as she finished the season with 18 stolen bases to rank 83rd in the nation with 0.56 stolen bases per game. Dunn stole 17 bases and ranked 101st in Division III with 0.50 stolen bases per game. Shields was 18 of 20 on stolen bases (90.0%), while Dunn was 17 of 18 (94.4%).

The Bearcats achieved several other individual rankings on the national statistics report.

Freshman pitcher Jocelyn Glasgo (Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) was 21st in Division III with three saves. Makayla Hari (Sr., P, Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) finished 43rd in fewest walks allowed per seven innings, as she gave up just five walks in 39 2/3 innings pitched.

Dunn was hit by 10 pitches in Willamette's 34 games. She ranked 23rd in the nation by averaging 0.29 hit by pitch per game. Miki Takara (Fr., 2B, Pearl City, HI/Maryknoll HS) ranked 68th in walks per game (0.56) after receiving 19 walks during the season.