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

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University softball team lost plenty of experience at the end of last season following the graduation of six seniors, including the top hitter and the most experienced pitcher. Even so, the Bearcats are looking for an improved record in 2018 after finishing last year at 14-20 overall and 12-16 in the Northwest Conference.

The top hitter for the Bearcats last season was senior shortstop Mallory Asaro, who achieved a .384 batting average with 11 doubles and five home runs. She was named First Team All-NWC. Another senior, catcher Alex Shields, also earned First Team All-NWC honors. Shields hit .365 with six doubles and achieved 18-for-20 success on stolen bases. Senior pitcher Jade Smith, who saw action in 22 games with 18 starts last spring, finished her career with 94 appearances and 74 starts. Smith was 37-36 in the circle with a 2.86 career earned run average and 160 strikeouts.

Asaro, Shields and Smith all graduated. Now is an opportunity for different Bearcats to step up and provide leadership for the team.

Key returning play are Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS), Reanna Lancaster (Jr., P, Los Altos, CAMountain View HS), Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School), and Morgan Penn (So., P/1B, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS).

Glasgo was chosen Second Team All-NWC as a utility player last spring. She was Willamette's second-leading hitter with a .380 batting average. She played in 21 games with 17 starts, and earned 19 hits in just 50 at bats. She drove in 11 runs and crossed the plate eight times. She smacked three doubles and two home runs. She registered a .560 slugging percentage and a .436 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, she went 3-2 with a 4.38 ERA and three saves in 24 innings pitched. Glasgo struck out 25 batters and allowed just five walks.

Lancaster achieved a 2.27 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 37.0 innings pitched. Her win-loss record of 1-3 with one save didn't match her overall effectiveness, as she limited opponents to a .243 batting average. During her first two seasons at Willamette, she has built an 8-7 record to go along with a 2.62 career ERA, two saves and 53 strikeouts.

Last year, Gier competed in 31 games -- all starts -- while accumulating 90 at bats. She recorded a .211 batting average with 12 runs scored and 10 RBIs. Penn batted .259 and saw action in 13 games with 10 starts. She had just 27 at bats, but registered two doubles and five RBIs for Willamette. As a pitcher, Penn threw for the Bearcats in 13 games with five starts.

Head Coach Damian Williams is beginning his 19th season with the Bearcats. He has a career record of 348-304 (.534) at Willamette, including 259-205 (.558) in Northwest Conference play.

The Bearcats open the season this weekend with three games at College of Idaho in Lewiston Idaho. Willamette will take on the Lady Yotes in two games on Saturday (Feb. 17) with first pitch set for 11 a.m. (PST). The teams will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday (Feb. 18) starting at 10 a.m. The Lady Yotes are 6-2 on the season after playing eight games in late January in Arizona.

Willamette will play four games against each NWC opponent, starting with home doubleheaders versus Pacific University on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25. Action will get underway at 12 p.m. (PST) each day. The Bearcats also will take on NWC opponents Lewis & Clark (March 10-11) and Pacific University (March 30-31) in four games at the WU Softball Field. The Bearcats will play George Fox in two road games on April 14 followed by two home games on April 15 to close out the regular season.

Other road games for Willamette in NWC play will be against Linfield College on March 17-18, at Whitworth University on March 24-25, and at University of Puget Sound on April 7-8. The top four teams in the final regular season NWC standings will advance into the NWC Tournament, set for April 20-22 at the winner of the regular season title.

In addition to competing in 28 game in NWC action, the Bearcats will also play four games in California during Spring Break. Willamette will take on Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) in a doubleheader in Claremont on March 27. The Bearcats will stay in Claremont to battle University of St. Katherine (Calif.) in a doubleheader on March 28.