By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University Bearcats built an 8-1 lead over the first three innings, before holding on for a 9-8 win in the second game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader against George Fox University on Sunday, Feb. 24. George Fox won the first game, 4-1.

Willamette concluded the afternoon with a 3-5 overall record, 3-1 in the NWC. The Bruins moved to 4-6 overall, 1-3 in the NWC.

In the first game, GFU scored in the opening frame, but registered just one run on three hits. With two outs, Kayla Anderson singled to center field and Kerrianne Davidson singled through the right side. Jenna Kirk placed a single in right center to drive in Anderson. A fly out ended the threat.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning. Jenna King (So., LF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) singled to shortstop with no outs. McKenzie Wasley (Fr., SS, Reno, NV/Galena HS) sent a bunt single toward third, and went to second on a wild throw, while King moved to third.

King was thrown out when Allie Martin (Jr., RF, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) hit into a fielder's choice, but Ashley Pender (Fr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) provided an RBI single to score Wasley.

GFU broke the tie by scoring three runs in the sixth inning. Nine batters went to the plate, as the Bruins took advantage of a single and five walks.

Willamette almost tied the game in the seventh. With one out, Pender walked and Kelli Snyder (Sr., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) doubled. One out later, with runners still at second and third, Erin Norris (So., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) smacked a fly ball near the deepest part of the park, but center fielder Felicia Chavez caught the ball at the fence.

Anderson of GFU went 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI, while teammate Courtney Howard finished 3 for 4 and scored one run. Seven players each registered one hit for Willamette.

Alyssa DenDekker (2-0) was the winning pitcher. She gave up seven hits, five walks and one run. Victoria Bradshaw (Fr., RHP, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) of WU pitched into the sixth and then re-entered later in the stanza. She finished with six strikeouts and four walks, while falling to 1-2.

The Bearcats built a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. A single by Pender and a double by Snyder put runners at second and third. Pender scored on a single by Courtney Galli (Jr., 1B, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS). Snyder scored when Galli was thrown out on a double steal.

Willamette extended its advantage to 8-1 after scoring six runs -- all unearned -- in the bottom of the third inning.

A bunt by Wasley led to a two-base throwing error by pitcher Taylor Whitmore. After a sacrifice bunt by Martin, Pender connected for a sacrifice fly, scoring Wasley. The inning also included a two-run double by Norris and a two-run single by Hope Kloczko (Sr., C, Cameron Park, CA/Oak Ridge HS).

The Bruins countered with three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth. Amanda Woods contributed an RBI single and Kirk blasted a two-run homer.

WU added a run by Yvonne Drabin (Sr., CF, Fremont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) in the fifth inning for a 9-4 lead. She scored when Martin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

In the sixth frame three consecutive hits, including a two-RBI double by Woods, enabled the Bruins to score twice.

GFU trailed 9-6 entering the seventh inning. Kat Hylton scored with one out when Anderson was issued a bases-loaded walk. Hayley Glantz (So., RHP, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS), who threw 116 pitches for WU, was relieved by Bradshaw. After Woods drove in another run with a groundout to second, Bradshaw caused Kirk to fly out to right field to end the game.

Glantz improved to 2-2 with the win, while Bradshaw picked up her first save. Whitmore dropped to 0-2 for GFU.

Snyder was 2 for 4 with a run scored, as she finished the day 3 for 8 with two doubles. Drabin went 2 for 3 and tallied two runs in the second game. Norris was 1 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.

For George Fox, Woods was 3 for 4 with two runs and four RBIs. Chavez finished 3 for 4 and scored once. Hylton was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College in an NWC doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 2. First pitch at the WU Softball Field is set for 12 p.m. (PST).