By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University and Pacific Lutheran University combined for 51 hits during their Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 7, as the teams put 47 runs on the scoreboard. The Lutes defeated the Bearcats in both games, holding on for a 14-10 win in the first game and rallying for a 12-11 victory in the second game.
With the wins, Pacific Lutheran improved to 18-15 overall, 9-11 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 3-28 on the season, 2-18 in the NWC.
For Willamette, Payten Healy (Fr., SS, Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) blasted a home run in each game and was 6 for 8 during the doubleheader with three runs and six RBIs. Jocelyn Glasgo (Jr., P, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) smacked a home run in the opener and Vanessa Almaraz (Jr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) pounded out a homer in the second game.
Glasgo and Healy Belt Home Runs in First Game
Runs were scored in bunches throughout the doubleheader and that was certainly the case for much of the first game. In the bottom of the first inning, Pacific Lutheran grabbed a 3-0 lead. Bailey Plumb hit a bunt single, when to second on a bunt single by Becca Sorenson. Two outs later, Plumb stole third and scored on an error. Chaella Galapon and Samantha Simundson each added an RBI single. Willamette tied the game when Glasgo connected on a three-run homer in the top of the second. Cassie Cosler (Fr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Emily Bishop (Sr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) also scored on the play.
The Lutes surged into an 8-3 lead by scoring five times in the third. Simundson led the way with a two-run homer, while Plumb and Kennedy Robillard both blasted an RBI double. Anna Overland contributed an RBI single.
WU countered with three runs in the top of the fourth to pull within 8-6. Healy drove in two runs with a homer to center. Later, Almaraz singled, stole second and scored on a single by Kelsey Wong (Fr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School). PLU expanded its lead to 13-6 with five runs in the fourth. The key hit was a three-run homer by Simundson.
The Bearcats responded by plating three runs in the fifth to reduce the lead to 13-9. Bishop sent one run across the plate with a sacrifice bunt, while Healy earned two RBIs on a single to center. The Lutes scored once in the bottom of the fifth on an infield single by Marley Dyer, and Willamette produced one run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Almaraz.
Simondsun was 3 for 3 with two homers and six RBIs for the Lutes. Robillard was 2 for 3 with a double, two runs, two walks and an RBI. Robillard also received the pitching win in the 14-10 victory, while Dyer was credited with a save after allowing just two runs in the final three innings. Healy's 3-for-4 effort topped Willamette, as she walked once, stole three bases and drove in four runs. Wong was 2 of 5, while Cosler and Sailor Mickey each hit a double. Glasgo homered, walked once, stole two bases, scored four runs and had three RBIs.
Healy and Almaraz Hit Homers in Second Game
The Bearcats pushed across the first nine runs in the second game. Healy brought in the first run on a solo homer with two outs in the top of the first. Willamette tacked on eight runs in the second inning. Almaraz began the onslaught with a solo homer. Later, Cosler and Wong scored when a fielder's choice resulted in an error. Bishop added a two-RBI single, Healy provided an RBI single to center, Bailey Hillmick (So., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) hit a sacrifice fly, and Almaraz drove in the final run on a sacrifice bunt.
Pacific Lutheran cut the margin to 9-7 with seven runs in the second. Galapon opened the scoring with a homer to center, and later drove in the final two runs with a double to left.
WU extended its lead to 11-7 by plating two runs in the fourth. Bishop opened the inning with a bunt single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored when Glasgo blasted a triple to left. Kathryn Hatlen went to the circle for PLU after Glasgo's homer and allowed just one hit over the next four innings. Glasgo scored on a wild pitch.
The Lutes gradually rallied for the win. Pacific Lutheran earned two runs in the bottom of the fourth, scored once in the sixth, and completed the rally with two runs in the seventh. In the fourth, both runs crossed the plate on a home run by Robillard. The run in the sixth was scored by pinch-runner Mari Foster when Galapon reached base on an error at third.
PLU trailed 11-10 in bottom of the seventh. With one out, pinch-hitter Erin McGrath singled up the middle and went to second on a wild pitch. Plumb hit an RBI single and went to second when the ball was misplayed, as McGrath scored. Plumb moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored the wining run when Sorensen hit a sacrifice fly to foul territory.
Healy was 3 of 4 for the Bearcats with a homer, two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Bishop was 2 of 4 with two runs and two RBIs, while Wong was 2 of 4 with a run scored. For PLU, Hatlen went 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Galapon was 2 of 4 with a homer and four RBIs. Robillard was 2 of 4 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs.
Up Next for Willamette
The Bearcats will play a four-game Northwest Conference series against University of Puget Sound next weekend at the WU Softball Field. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13 at 12 p.m. (PDT) and will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 14, also starting at 12 p.m.
Big Moment of the Day for Willamette
Payten Healy provided the Bearcats with two Big Moments
as she earned a home run in both games. She smacked a
two-run homer in the first game, and then blasted a solo
homer in the second game. She went 3 for 4 at the plate
in each game and finished the doubleheader 6 for 8 with two
homers, three runs, six RBIs, five stolen bases and a walk.