By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Jocelyn Glasgo (Sr., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) smacked a three-run homer and a solo homer, and Adele Benny (Fy, OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) blasted a three-run, inside-the-park homer, to lead Willamette University to a 10-8 victory over the University of Puget Sound in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 7. Puget Sound held a 7-3 lead at the start of the fifth inning when the second game was suspended due to darkness.
With the win in the opener, Willamette improved to 4-6 overall and to 3-2 in the NWC. Puget Sound dropped to 1-7 overall, 0-1 in the NWC. The Bearcats and Loggers will complete the second game at 10 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday, March 8. The teams will then play the doubleheader previously scheduled for Sunday.
Both teams scored three runs in the first inning. Brianna Majors (Fy, SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) and Benny earned back-to-back walks to begin the game. A passed ball advanced each runner one base before Glasgo blasted her three-run homer. In the bottom of the first, Kaitlyn Webster hit a three-run homer with Hana DeGuzman and Hailee Ueyama on base to tie the score.
Willamette surged ahead with four runs in the top of the second. With one out, Vanessa Almaraz (Sr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) was hit by a pitch. Majors hit a single and went to second when Puget Sound tried unsuccessfully to throw out Almaraz at third. Benny was up next, and connected with the ball for a three-run, inside-the park homer. Glasgo followed with a solo home run, as Willamette grabbed a 7-3 lead
One run in each of the next three half-innings, left WU with a 8-5 advantage entering the fourth inning. The Loggers plated two runs in the bottom of the stanza to pull within 8-7.
Kelsie Sullivan hit a leadoff double. After Webster received a walk, Sullivan went to third on a flyout by Marissa Oda, and scored on a single by Abby Brondos. Webster reached home on a sacrifice fly by Noelle Kerr.
The Bearcats tacked on a run in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Benny singled through the right side. Glasgo hit a single to right field to drive in Benny. Glasgo went to second on an error at the end of the play. Bailey Hillmick (Jr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) was hit by a pitch and Marykate DeLuca walked, but the Bearcats left the bases loaded. In the bottom of the fifth, DeGuzman walked and scored following two ground outs, as the Loggers pulled within 9-8.
Willamette picked up an insurance run in the seventh for a 10-8 lead. Glasgo doubled to left with one out, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Hillmick walked, DeLuca sent a sacrifice fly into center field to drive home Glasgo.
Glasgo faced just three batters in the bottom of the seventh, as she caused DeGuzman to ground out, and then struck out Ueyama and Sullivan. Glasgo, who entered the circle at the start of the fifth inning, recorded her first save while striking out four batters and allowing just one hit, one run and one walk. Starting pitcher Ashley Medina (Fy., P, San Ysidro, CA/Otay Ranch HS) improved to 3-3 for the Bearcats with the win. Sullivan, who started and pitched 1 1/3 innings for Puget Sound, fell to 1-1 with the loss.
The home run hitters for Willamette both had solid games. In addition to earning a save, Glasgo went 4 for 5 at the plate with two homers, a double, three runs and five RBIs. Benny was 2 of 4 with one homer, three runs and three RBIs. Gianna Marchese (So., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) went 2 for 5 with a double. Majors scored three runs.
Puget Sound received a 2-for-5 performance from DeGuzman with three runs scored. Webster was 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and three RBIs, while Brondos finished 2 of 4 with a run and an RBI.
