By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University rallied from deficits of 7-0 after 1 1/2 innings and 12-9 in the 14th inning, before falling to Pomona-Pitzer College (Calif.), 13-12 in 15 innings, during the first game of doubleheader at the WU Softball Field on Friday, March 15. Kylie Liu had eight at bats for the Sagehens while teammate Brooke Bullis had seven at bats. Mia Lund (Sr., OF/UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) and Mia Rogers (So., 2B/SS/P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) both had seven at bats for the Bearcats.
Emma Elliott (So., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) of Willamette, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the opener, blasted a three-run homer in the second inning of the second game to give Willamette a 5-3 lead. The Bearcats won the game by the same score when play was stopped after 5 1/2 innings due to impending darkness. Kenna Davis (Jr., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) pitched all six innings in the second game and picked up the win.
The Bearcats ended the non-conference twinbill with a 4-10 overall record. Pomona-Pizer concluded the day at 7-8 on the season.
Sagehens Win First Game in 15 Innings, 13-12
In the opener, the Sagehens plated seven runs in the top of the second. The first two runs scored on a double by Devin Waddell. Three runs were added on a bases-clearing double by Bullis. The final two runs were scored on a double to left center by Liu.
Willamette scored four runs in the bottom of the second to pull within 7-4, as Pomona-Pitzer committed three errors. Karsen Angel (Fy., C, Albany, OR/South Albany HS) reached base on a dropped ball in center, but received a sacrifice fly as Brianna Majors (Grad., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) scored from third. The error led to Kendra Knapp (Sr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) also scoring. Lund hit into a throwing error by the pitcher, as Faith Collar (Jr., UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) and Angel scored.
Elliott's two-run homer in the third inning reduced the deficit for the Bearcats to 7-6. Pinch-runner Sophia Lucio (So., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) also scored on the play.
The score did not change again until the bottom of the seventh when Willamette tied the game. Lund tripled to center field with one out. Stella Puckett (Fy., OF), Salem, OR/Sprague HS) grounded out to shortstop as the ball deflected off the end of the pitcher's glove, providing time for Lund to cross the plate.
Willamette and Pomona-Pitzer played eight extra innings under the international tie-breaker, which begins each inning with a runner at second. The game eventually ended after a total of three hours and 55 minutes. The relief pitchers -- Jordyn Johnson (Sr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) of WU and Waddell of Pomona-Pitzer -- both deserved to win after Johnson threw 13 1/3 innings with 169 pitches and Waddel tossed 13 innings with 163 pitches.
Each team tallied a run in the 10th and one in the 12th for a 9-9 tie. In the 14th, Pomona-Pitzer earned three runs and WU added three runs in the bottom of the inning for a 12-12 tie. The Bearcat recorded the scores on RBI singles from Lund, Rogers, and Maris Pinheiro (Fy., C/OF, Tulare, CA/Tulare Union HS).
In the top of the 15th, Victoria Hadley of Pomona-Pitzer scored on a one-out single by Bella Carreon, giving the Sagehens a 13-12 lead. Willamette had runners at second and third with one out when Erickson grounded out to third. Waddell registered a strikeout to end the game, as she improved to 4-2. Johnson fell to 0-4 for the Bearcats.
Lund went 3 of 7 for WU with two runs and two RBIs. Elliott was 2 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs. Collar scored four runs. Morgan Groves was 3 of 6 for the Sagehens.
Elliott's Homer Helps Bearcats Take Second Game, 5-3
Pomona-Pitzer took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Carreon was hit by a pitch with one out and Brooke Bullis singled through the left side. Grove doubled down the right field line to drive in Carreon. Bullis scored and Groves went to third on a throwing error. With two outs, Liu hit an RBI double to left center.
The Bearcats fought back in the bottom of the second inning by scoring five runs. Harley Raymond (Jr., 1B, Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS) walked. With one out, Lucio singled to left. Lund hit into a fielder's choice as Lucio was thrown out at second and Raymond went to third. Lund stole second and then Maggie Fleischman (Fy., INF, Fresno, CA/Central HS) walked. With the bases loaded, Rogers hit a two-run single to center field. Elliott followed with a two-run homer over the fence near the right field line, as WU took a 5-3 lead.
Davis threw 122 pitches, struck out three batters and allowed eight hits in six innings to earn the win. She improved to 3-4 on the season. Erika Rivera of Pomona-Pitzer fell to 2-4 after throwing 122 pitches and allowing six hits and five runs in five innings. Rivera struck out 11 batters.
Rogers was 3 for 3 at the plate for the Bearcats with one run and two RBIs. Elliott was 1 for 2 with her three-run homer. Lucio went 2 for 2. Shelby Hawkes of the Sagehens was 2 of 3.
