By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Shaye Mott (Jr., P, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) pitched a complete-game four-hitter as Willamette University defeated nearby rival Corban University, 8-1, in the first game of a softball doubleheader at Warrior Field on Saturday, Feb. 5. Kendra Knapp (Jr., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) and Mia Lund (So., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) each belted a home run in the opener. Corban won the second game, 8-5, after the Warriors scored five runs in the fifth inning for an 8-4 lead.
Jordyn Johnson (So., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) hit a home run in the second game for the Bearcats, giving WU a total of three homers on the day. Lauren Besse of Corban tossed a six-hitter for the Warriors while throwing all seven innings in the second game.
Willamette ended the two-game series with a 1-1 record. Corban moved to 2-4 on the season.
The only run scored against Mott in the first game was unearned. Later, Mott threw the final 1 2/3 innings of the second game without allowing a run or a hit. During the doubleheader, she went 1-0 with 8 2/3 innings pitched while allowing just four hits and one unearned run.
With Mott pitching in the opener, the Bearcats didn't need a lot of offense to win the game, but Willamette still pounded out 10 runs and benefited from two errors by the Warriors. Willamette built an early 4-0 lead with two runs in the first inning and two runs in the second inning. The first inning featured a 2-run double by Kelsey Wong (Sr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School). Majors drove in Alexandra Richards (Fy., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) with a two-out double in the second inning. Mott later scored on a passed ball.
The Bearcats increased the lead to 8-0 with two runs in the fourth stanza and two more runs in the sixth. In the fourth inning, Knapp drove in one run with a single down the right field line and Mott brought home the second run with a single up the middle. In the sixth frame, Knapp and Lund hit back-to-back solo home runs with one out.
Corban's lone run crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-runner Sarah Parker went to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third when the play led to a throwing error. Parker scored on a throwing error after Anastasia Iosia flied out to left field.
Knapp was 2 for 2 during the game with a homer, three runs scored, two RBIs, and two walks. Lund finished 2 for 4 with a home run. Cora Erickson (So., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) was 2 of 4 with a double.
Johnson provided WU with the first run in the second game when she smacked a solo homer to left field as the leadoff batter in the top of the second. The Warriors equalized in the bottom of the second, when an error and a wild pitch led to an unearned run scored by Kaycee Arase.
Willamette edged in front 2-1 in the third inning, when Lund walked with one out, stole second and third, and scored on an infield single by Wong. Corban pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third for a 3-2 lead. Logann Walker opened the stanza by walking and then stole second and third base. She scored on a throwing error that allowed Taylor Beasley to reach first and second base. Beasley stole third and scored on a single by Madison Wyllie.
The Bearcats surged back in front at 4-3 by plating two runs in the top of the fifth. Lund walked and Mott doubled with one out. Wong hit an RBI single, while Faith Collar (Fy., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) provided a sacrifice fly.
Corban regained the advantage with five runs in the bottom of the fifth for an 8-4 lead. The inning included five hits and one error. Key hits were an RBI double by Arase, a 2-RBI single by Iosia, and an RBI single from Meri McElligot. The Bearcats tallied one run in the sixth inning when Johnson walked and later scored, but the Bearcats were unable to get closer.
For Willamette in the second game, Wong provided a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with two RBIs. Johnson was 1 for 2 with a homer and two runs scored. Arase went 2 for 3 at the plate for Corban with a double, two runs, and an RBI. McElligot was 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 12 in the Bearcats' home opener at the WU Softball Field against Eastern Oregon University. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats also will take on Eastern Oregon in a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 13 starting at 11 a.m.