By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team split a pair of Northwest Conference games with Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, April 3. The Bearcats used explosive offense and solid pitching in the first game to earn a 9-0 victory after five innings of play. The Lutes responded in game two and grabbed a 3-0 victory away from Willamette.

The Bearcats used two big offensive innings, in the first and third, to claim a 9-0 victory in five innings in the first game. WU scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning off of four hits. Sierra Lessel (So., OF, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS) opened the game with a single and then stole second to set the tone early for the aggressive WU offense.

Jessica Barry (So., OF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS), Bri Compton (Jr., P, Kalispell, MT/Wenatchee CC) and Kelli Snyder (Fr., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) all had hits in the first inning.

In the third inning, Willamette gathered six hits and capitalized on two Lute errors to score five runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Talissa Huntsman (So., 3B, Richland, WA/Richland HS) hit a three-run single. Huntsman advanced to third on a throw a home and an error by the PLU catcher. She later scored as part of a double steal involving Nichole Robertson (So., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Cosumnes River College).

Barry finished the game 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Lessel, Snyder, Wallace and Huntsman each had two hits apiece.

Compton threw a gem in the circle for the Bearcats. She pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit and walking one. With the win, Compton moved to 9-0 on the season.

Ramona Lorton picked up the loss for the Lutes. Lorton pitched 2.1 innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs. She struck out two. Lorton is now 6-2 overall.

Willamette's bats went silent in game two, as the Lutes held the Bearcats to just five hits and earned a 3-0 victory. Pacific Lutheran jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first. PLU added one more run in the sixth, when Cuthill hit an RBI single.

Alex Watilo (So., P, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) took the loss for WU to move her season record to 6-3. Watilo threw all seven innings and gave up six hits and three runs. Stacey Hagensen earned the win for PLU. Hagensen is 3-4 overall this season.

Willamette is now 19-6 overall and 11-2 in the NWC. PLU moved to 15-7 overall and 9-3 in the NWC.

WU is scheduled to host George Fox University for a pair of double headers on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. Action will start at 12 p.m. each day. Three games that have been canceled due to rain, a double header against PLU and one game against Lewis & Clark College, have not been rescheduled at this time.