By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College's Alyssa Abe tossed a complete-game six-hitter to win the first game 4-2, then scored seven runs in the first two innings of the second game to earn a 10-3 win, as the Pioneers took both games of a doubleheader with Willamette University on Saturday, April 3 at the Huston Sports Complex.
L&C improved its record to 9-5 on the season, 5-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats fell to 3-15 overall, 2-10 in the NWC.
Abe's pitching was the difference in game one, despite a solid effort in the circle from Willamette's Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS). Abe allowed six hits without issuing a walk, while Mott allowed only five hits to go with one free pass.
Willamette grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophia Lucio (Fy., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) opened the frame with a single back to Abe. She stole second, and then scored on a single from Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS).
L&C scored all four of its runs in the bottom half of the first. With nobody out, Braylin Jenson reached on an error and Olivia Brackin walked. Sydney Cross and Samantha Gildersleeve then smacked back-to-back homers.
Mott allowed just three hits the rest of the way and kept the Bearcats in the game, allowing Willamette to mount a rally in the top of the fourth. Hillmick opened the frame with a single down the left field line, and advanced to second on a two-out single from Kendra Knapp (So., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS). Gianna Marchese (Jr., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) dropped an RBI single into center, scoring Hillmick, but Abe induced a foul-out to end the inning.
Lucio and Hillmick both went 2 for 3 during the game. For L&C, Cross was 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Gildersleeve went 1 for 3 with a walk.
The Pioneers surged to an early 7-0 lead in the second game, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning to go with six more in the bottom of the second.
Marykate DeLuca (So., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) put the Bearcats on the board in the fourth with a three-run double. Brianna Majors (So., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) started the rally with a one-out single through the right side. One batter later, a single from Mott put two runners on. Knapp's single back to the pitcher loaded the bases, which DeLuca promptly cleared with her double.
L&C tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and a single run in the sixth to provide the final margin.
Mott had a perfect day at the plate for Willamette, going 3 for 3 with a run scored. Knapp was 2 for 3, while Majors and Mia Lund (Fy., OF, Omaha, NE, Westside HS) both went 2 for 4. Gildersleeve was 2 for 4 for the Pioneers, and Mari Alvarez was 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
Jane Wilson, the Pioneers' starting pitcher, received credit for the win, allowing just three hits and no runs over three innings pitched. Cassidy Crusberg earned the save.
The Bearcats are next scheduled to host Pacific University for a four-game NWC series on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11. First pitch at the Willamette Softball Field will be at 12 p.m. (PDT) for Saturday's doubleheader, and 11 a.m. for the Sunday twinbill.
