By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Willamette University and Bushnell University (formerly Northwest Christian University) played two very close softball games on Sunday, Feb. 28 at Rich Schwab Field, with the Beacons taking the first game, 4-3, on a run in the bottom of the sixth, and Willamette winning the second game, 6-4, with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) and Cassie Cosler (Jr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) each recorded an RBI in the seventh inning for the Bearcats.

Willamette moved to 1-1 on the season. Bushnell ended the day at 2-8.

In the second game, Willamette trailed 3-0 after the Beacons plated individual runs in the second, third, and fifth innings. The Bearcats surged in front, 4-3, by scoring four times in the top of the sixth. Willamette earned three hits and benefited from an error during the inning. Fleckenstein drove in the first run with a single to center. Cosler brought home the second run when she walked with the bases loaded. Sophia Lucio (Fy., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) drove in the next two runs on a single through the left side, as Fleckenstein and Gianna Marchese (Jr., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) scored.

Bushnell tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on two hits and an error. The tyhing run was scored by Suzi Krstic, who reached base on a single, went to second on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scorred when Lilly Bauer reached base on an unsuccessful fielder's choice. The Beacons were unable to take the lead and left two runners on base at the end of the stanza.

Mia Lund (Fy., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) and Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) each walked to start the top of the seventh. One out later, Fleckenstein singled through the right side to drive in Lund. the play ended with Mott at third and Fleckenstein at second. Cosler grounded out to drive in Mott. Another groundout ended the inning, but the Bearcats held a 6-4 advantage.

Anabel Mendez was hit by a pitch and Alexa Berry singled for Bushnell to begin the bottom of the seventh. Mendez was thrown out after over-running second base. WU pitcher Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) kept Berry on first base by forcing Sam Silver to pop-up to third and causing Krstic to fly-out to left.

Fleckenstein was 2 for 4 at the plate for the Bearcats in the second game. She drove in two runs. Cosler and Lucio also registered two RBIs. Jordan Kuykendall was 3 of 4 for Bushnell, while teammate Anna Cardwell finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Hillmick improved to 1-0 with the win. Reliever Leslie Reynaga of BU fell to 0-1 with the loss. The Beacons' starter, Stella Turner, recorded eight strikeouts.

In the first game, Bushnell rallied from a 3-0 deficit to claim the win after the Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and added a run in the fourth. Brianna Majors (So., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) belted a triple to left center with one out to bring in the game's first run. Majors scored on a single by Hillmick. In the fourth, Kelsey Wong (Jr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) brought home Marchese with a bases-loaded walk.

The Beacons cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Cardwell crossed the plate on a single by Kerry Murphy. Bushnell plated two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game. Miranda Jensen tripled with one out and scored the first run when Noel Balderston reached base on an error. Balderston scored later in the inning.

Berry doubled to right center to open the bottom of the sixth for Bushnell. A sacrifice bunt advanced Berry to third, and she scored on a triple by Alyssa Ferreira to give Bushnell a 4-3 lead. Mott, who pitched the whole game for Willamette, forced Jensen to hit a pop-up and then ended the inning with a groundout by Balderston. Jensen, who threw all seven innings, gave up a single in the top of the seventh, but did not allow a tying run.

Hillmick was 2 of 4 with an RBI for the Bearcats in the second game. Murphy was 2 of 3 with an RBI for Bushnell. Jensen advanced her record to 2-2, while Mott fell to 0-1.

Willamette is set to return to action with a pair of non-conference games at Pacific University on Saturday, March 6. First pitch in Forest Grove, Oregon, is set for 11 a.m. (PST).