By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University received two hits from five different players as the Bearcats pounded out 13 hits overall to roll past Lewis & Clark College, 10-2 on the run rule in six innings, in the opener of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 10. The Pioneers outscored the Bearcats 11-8 in the second game after Lewis & Clark led 8-2 entering the bottom of the fifth. Willamette got as close as 9-8 in the bottom of the sixth, before the Pioneers clinched the win with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
The split of the doubleheader left Willamette at 1-6 overall, 1-3 in the NWC, while Lewis & Clark moved to 4-6 overall, 3-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats and the Pioneers will complete the series with another doubleheader on Sunday, March 11. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).
Bearcats Win First Game 12-2 on Run Rule in Six Innings
Willamette surged out to an 8-0 lead after three innings on its way to a 12-2 win in the first game on the run rule in six innings. Pitcher Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) tossed all six innings and limited the Pioneers to six hits and two runs. She registered three strikeouts and did not allow a walk.
Glasgo also contributed to the offense. She hit an RBI single in the first inning and blasted a two-run homer in the second inning. She was 2 for 3 overall with a run, a walk and three RBIs.
The Bearcats opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first. With one out, Danielle Koontz (Fr., 2B, Cupertino, CAMonta Vista HS) walked, and then went to second on a wild pitch. She scored on Glasgo's single up the middle. Maya Shipway (So., 1B, Bothell, WA/The Bear Creek School) also singled. Glasgo was thrown out at third on a rare 8-5 force out, as Vanessa Almaraz (So., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) hit into a fielder's choice with the outfield playing in. Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS) followed with a double to left center that drove home Shipway and Almaaraz.
In the second inning, Glasgo smacked her home run to left field. Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) also scored on a play, as Willamette grabbed a 5-0 lead.
Willamette tacked on three runs in the third. Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HIIolani School) drove in the first run with a single to right center. Breianna Mcleod (Fr., SSUT, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) sent the next two runners across the plate with a single up the middle. Olivia Scott (So., C, San Francisco, CA/Lowell HS), Sofia Magnani (So., P, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS) and Gier scored during the inning.
Sydney Cross of Lewis & Clark drove in the Pioneers' first run with a single in the fourth inning. Later in the fourth, Stephanie Garcia hit an infield single toward the pitcher to bring in another run for L&C, cutting Willamette's lead to 8-2.
The Bearcats closed out the run-rule win by scoring once in the fifth inning and once in the sixth. In the fifth, Hillmick doubled and gave way to Scott as a pinch-runner. Scott scored when Magnani batted next and hit a single up the middle. In the sixth, Koontz doubled to left center with one out. Glasgo walked and Shipway popped up to shortstop. Almaraz doubled to left field to sent Koontz home with the final run of the game.
Glasgo was one of five Bearcats with two hits during the game. Other Willamette players with two hits were Koontz, Hillmick, Magnani and Mcleod. Six players each earned one hit for Lewis & Clark.
Rally Falls Short for Willamette in Second Game
The Bearcats attempted a huge comeback from an 8-2 deficit in the second game, but fell just short before the Pioneers scored two times in the seventh inning to clinch an 11-8 win.
Lewis & Clark took a 1-0 lead when Ateisha Norton belted a solo home run to left field to open the second inning. In the third inning, L&C increased its lead to 2-0 when Garcia scored an unearned run from third on a throwing error from the outfield.
The Pioneers tacked on two more unearned runs in the top of the fourth. Willamette answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The first run was scored by Shipway, who singled and then went three bases on an RBI double by Almaraz. Magnani sent Almaraz to third with a single to left field. The ball was misplayed, allowing Almaraz to score.
Four runs in the top of the fifth gave the Pioneers a six-run advantage at 8-2. The half inning included five hits. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Cross provided L&C with a bases-clearing double down the left field line. Ariel Trinidad doubled to centr to bring home Cross. Willamette picked up two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the margin to 8-4, but the Pioneers scored once in the sixth inning on Norton's second home run of the game for a 9-4 lead.
Willamette used four hits to plate four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Mcleod singled to start the inning and eventually scored with two outs on a wild pitch. Shipway drove in the next two runs with a double up the middle. Almaraz followed with a single through the left side to allow Shipway to score. Two errors helped Willamette load the bases, but Mcleod flied out to left center to end the threat.
The Pioneers tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, and hte Bearcats sent just three batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. L&C starter Savannah Dickson improved to 4-1 with the win. She threw 125 pitched over six complete innings. She allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- despite shutting out the Bearcats in the first three innings. WU starter Reanna Lancaster (Jr., P, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) took the loss.
L&C gained a 15-12 edge in total hits. Garcia went 4 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored. Norton was 2 of 4 with two homers, two walks, four runs scored and two RBIs. Cross finished 2 of 4 with two doubles, one run and three RBIs.
Almaraz was 3 for 3 at the plate for the Bearcats. She hit a double, scored once and had two RBIs. Shipway went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, three runs scored and three RBIs.