By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College received a complete-game five-hitter from Savannah Dickson to win the first game 3-0, and then scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 6-4 win in the second game, as the Pioneers took both games of a doubleheader with Willamette University on Saturday, March 16 at the Huston Sports Complex. Vanessa Almaraz (Jr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) of Willamette belted a grand slam home run in the first inning of the second game.

L&C advanced its record to 5-9 on the season, 3-7 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 0-15 overall, 0-10 in the NWC. The teams will complete the four-game series with another doubleheader on Sunday, March 17 starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Dickson Throws 5-Hitter for Pioneers in Opener

The pitching of Dickson in the first game created problems for the Bearcats, despite a solid game in the circle by Willamette's Jocelyn Glasgo (Jr., P, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS). Dickson allowed just five hits, although Glasgo and Amber Griffith (Fr., C, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) each recorded a double. When pitching, Glasgo allowed just three runs on nine hits. She had three strikeouts and allowed two walks.

Lewis & Clark grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Emily Drevdahl opened the frame with a double to center field. She went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lily Moffitt, and then scored two batters later on a single by Frankie Warden.

Glasgo forced the Pioneers to leave the bases loaded in the third inning. L&C increased its advantage to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Drevdahl singled with one out and stole second with two outs. Olivia Brackin smacked a two-run homer to center.

Although Willamette was held scoreless by Dikson, the Bearcats did have runners at first and third with two outs in the first and third innings. In the fourth, Griffith doubled with one out and went to third on a ground out. Almaraz reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base in the sixth.

Sailor Mickey (Fr., 2B, Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) of Willamette was 2 for 3 during the game. For L&C, Brackin was 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run. Drevdahl went 2 of 4 with a double and two runs scored. Warden was 2 of 2 with an RBI.

Grand Slam by Almaraz Gives WU 4-0 Lead in Second Game

When Almaraz went to the plate with one out in the first inning of the second game, Breianna Mcleod (So., OF, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) was on third base, Glasgo was at second, and Bailey Hillmick (So., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) was at first. Almaraz cleared the bases with a grand slam home run. It was her second home run of the season. Earlier in the inning, Mcleod singled, while Glasgo and Hillmick walked.

The Pioneers reduced the lead to 4-1 with a run in the second inning. Warden singled to right center to start the stanza. One out later, with Warden at second, Ana Zimmerman singled through the left side, moving Warden to third. Kami Merrill doubled to right center to drive in Warden. Zimmerman had to hold up at third and was later left on base.

A double by Drevdahl and a two-run homer by Brackin provided L&C with two more runs in the third inning, as the Pioneers pulled within one run at 4-3.

Lewis & Clark surged into a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Warden opened the inning with a solo home run to right center to tie the score. Later, Braylin Jenson put L&C in front by scoring on a wild pitch, and Drevdahl drove in an insurance run with a single through the right side.

Megan Anderson, the starting pitcher for L&C, rallied after giving up three hits in the first inning, including the grand slam by Almaraz. Anderson allowed just one hit over the next 5 1/3 innings, before giving way to Dickson, who earned a save.

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Vanessa Almaraz smacked a grand slam home run in the
top of the first inning of the second game to give Willamette
a 4-0 lead over Lewis & Clark. The Pioneers rallied to win
the game, but the big hit by Almaraz is still very impressive.