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

SALEM, Ore. -- Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring home Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) with the winning run, as Willamette University edged nationally-ranked George Fox University, 3-2, to start a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28.

George Fox, tied for #25 in the NCAA Division III Poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), held off the Bearcats in the second game, as the Bruins claimed a 10-9 victory. GFU ended the day at 21-5 on the season, 11-3 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette went to 7-15 overall, 4-8 in the NWC.

WU trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning in the opener, but the Bearcats tied the score when Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B/OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) tripled and later scored. Rieger reached home when Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) hit into an error by the pitcher.

The Bearcats secured the win after Pender singled to start Willamette's half of the eighth inning. Amanda Absher (Sr., DP/C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) hit a sacrifice bunt toward third to move Pender to second base. After Rieger was intentionally walked, Shields was hit by a pitch.

GFU pitcher Madison Sorensen struck out Steffany Dunn (So., INF, Colfax, CA/Colfax HS) for the second out, and achieved a 2-1 count against Lathrop. Sorensen's fourth pitch to Lathrop hit the batter's helmet, forcing in Pender across the plate to end the game.

In the first inning of the opener, Willamette took a 1-0 lead. Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) reached base on catcher's interference, stole second, went to third on a single by Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) and scored on a double by Absher.

The Bruins tallied a run in the third, as Rebecca Pridmore singled with one out and later scored on a single by Courtney Howard. GFU moved in front with a run in the top of the fifth. Howard was hit by a pitch with one out, and a walk advanced her to second. She reached home on a single by Amanda Woods.

Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) threw all eight innings for WU and improved to 5-5. She struck out six batters, while allowing only six hits and one walk. Sorensen fell to 7-2 with the loss for the Bruins. Sorensen and starter Abbie Bergerson combined for nine strikeouts and three walks.

In the second half of the doubleheader, George Fox took a 4-0 lead on a grand slam by Kayla Anderson in the third inning. Willamette kept battling back, pulling within 4-3, 6-5, and 9-7.

First, the Bearcats pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third to pull within one run. Willamette earned five hits during the inning, including an RBI single on the infield by Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) and a two-RBI single through the left side by Absher.

After GFU extended its lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth, the Bearcats answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Ramirez doubled down the left field line. With two outs, King reached first and second on a throwing error, which allowed Ramirez to score. Pender belted a double to left center to drive in King.

The Bruins tallied three runs in the fifth and WU responded with two runs in the sixth, leaving GFU with a 9-7 lead entering the seventh inning. Parker hit an RBI triple for the Bruins in the fifth, while Wilsow provided an RBI double for the Bearcats in the sixth.

George Fox moved in front 10-7 in the top of the seventh, after starting the stanza with an infield single and a bunt single. Two outs later, with runners at first and third, Anderson singled to right to score Julia Apodaca.

WU scored twice with no outs in the bottom of the inning, as Absher singled, Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) doubled, and Shields connected on a two-run single through the right side. A double play ended momentum and a groundout ended the game.

Bergerson pitched the first four innings of the second game for GFU and re-entered with no outs in the seventh. She earned the win and is now 12-2. WU starter Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) fell to 1-7.

For WU during the doubleheader, Winslow was 4 for 6 with three runs, a double and an RBI. Pender finished 4 for 8 with a run, a double and an RBI. Absher went 3 for 6 with a double and drove in three runs. Rieger was 3 for 7 with a double, a triple, and one run. Ramirez went 4 for 8, hit a double and scored three times.

Anderson of GFU was 2 for 5 in the second game with one run and five RBIs. Woods finished the twinbill 4 for 8 overall with one RBIs.

The Bearcats will play a Northwest Conference doubleheader at Pacific University on Sunday, March 29. First pitch in Forest Grove, Oregon, is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).