By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Brianna Majors (Fy, SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) smacked a go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to help Willamette University rally for an 8-7 victory over Pacific Lutheran University in the second game of a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Sunday, March 1. Ashley Medina (Fy, P, San Ysidro, CA/Otay Ranch HS) pitched to just three batters in the top of the seventh inning to earn her first save. Pacific Lutheran won the first game 5-3.
The teams split not only the doubleheader, but also the four-game NWC series. Willamette ended the weekend at 3-6 overall, 2-2 in the NWC. The Lutes moved to 4-6 on the season, 2-2 in the NWC. The Bearcats will travel to Tacoma, Washington, next weekend to take on the University of Puget Sound in NWC doubleheaders on Saturday, March7 at 12 p.m. (PST) and on Sunday, March 8 at 11 a.m.
"Today was a lot of fun. We had a ton of energy and the girls were fired up. I'm proud of the fight we showed in game two and the way we came together as a unit."
— Willamette Head Coach Paige Hall
In the opener, Willamette held leads of 2-0 and 3-2, before the Lutes scored two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh to secure the 5-3 win. Kennedy Robillard of PLU threw a complete-game, seven-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks. In the second game, PLU overcame a 5-2 deficit after four innings to claim a 7-6 advantage with three runs in the top of the sixth. Majors' two-run homer during the next half-inning put Willamette back in front, 8-7, and Medina's strong pitching in the top of the seventh clinched the win.
Hillmick Goes 2 for 3, Hits a Home Run, in First Game
Willamette plated one run in the second inning and one run in the third inning for a 2-0 advantage in the first game. Hillmick connected for a solo home run as the first batter in the bottom of the second. In the third, Adele Benny (Fy, OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) reached base with two outs when the first baseman dropped a throw from third. Jocelyn Glasgo (Sr., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) drove in Benny from first base with double to left center.
PLU tied the game in the top of the fourth when Nanea Kalama belted a two-run homer to left center. Erin McGrath, who walked with one out, also scored on the play. Willamette moved back in front, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth. Hillmick singled, and gave way to pinch-runner Olivia Scott (Sr., OF, San Francisco, CA/Lowell HS). Scott went to second on a single by Shaye Mott (Fy, P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) and scored on a double by Gianna Marchese (So., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.).
Two of the first three runners for the Lutes in the top of the sixth inning reached base on errors. McGrath got on the basepaths when a thrown ball was dropped at first base. After Kalama flied out, Mikayla Chun went to first base on an error at shortstop. Later in the inning, McGrath scored on a sacrifice fly by Anna Foster and Chun scored on a wild pitch to give PLU a 4-3 lead. Kalama added an insurance run when she drove in Mari Foster with a single in the seventh. Mari Foster was on base after an error in center field and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Chaella Galapon.
Pacific Lutheran outhit the Bearcats 7-5, with Kalama going 2 of 4 with a home run, one run scored and three RBIs. Chun went 2 of 4 and scored once. Hillmick's 2-for-3 effort with a home run led Willamette. Glasgo and Marchese each contributed a double. Medina pitched all seven innings for the Bearcats, and fell to 2-3 on the season despite allowed only five hits. Three of PLU's runs were unearned.
Majors, Glasgo and Almaraz Smack Homers in Game Two
Willamette produced seven extra-base hits in the second game, including one home run each by Majors, Glasgo and Vanessa Almaraz (Sr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS). The Lutes' only extra-base hit during the game was a home run by Kalama.
The Bearcats broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the second on a leadoff homer by Glasgo. In the third inning, WU increased its lead to 2-0 when Almaraz pounded out another leadoff homer. Pacific Lutheran used a two-run single by Mari Foster in the fourth inning to tie the score. Willamette claimed a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning when Marchese belted an RBI double and Payten Healy (So., SS, Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) hit a two-run double.
Kalama sent a two-run homer over the left field fence in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 5-4. WU took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Glasgo hit an infield single, went to second on a bad throw, and reached both third and home on wild pitches. The Lutes tacked on three runs on four hits and an error in the sixth inning to gain a 7-6 advantage.
Willamette's success in the bottom of the sixth began with a double to center field by Almaraz. A wild pitch sent Almaraz to third. She scored when Majors followed with a two-run homer to right field.
In the top of the seventh, Medina threw just 12 pitches, as she forced Sydney Victor and Anna Foster to ground out, before striking out Raynna Mekaru on a 3-2 pitch. Mott, who started the game in the circle for the Bearcats, improved to 1-1 on the season. Relief pitcher Marley Dyer of PLU slipped to 1-2 with the loss.
Glasgo was 3 for 3 with a double, a homer and three runs scored for the Bearcats. Majors went 2 for 3 with a homer, one run, a stolen base and two RBIs. Almaraz was 2 for 3 with a double, a homer, two runs and an RBI. For Pacific Lutheran, Mari Foster went 3 of 4 with a run and two RBIs. Galapon was 3 of 4 with an RBI. Kalama was 2 for 3 with a homer.
