Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Mia Lund (Fy., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) recorded two hits in the first game for Willamette University, and Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) contributed two hits in the second game, but Pacific University won both halves of the doubleheader, 12-2 and 8-0, on Sunday, April 11 at the WU Softball Field. The first game was decided on the run rule in six innings. Pacific ended the doubleheader at 11-13 overall, 6-8 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 3-18 overall, 2-13 in the NWC.

Pacific scored four runs in the first inning of the opener. Nicole Martinez started the inning with a single up the middle. She eventually reached third base with one out and scored when Montana Vaught belted a 2-run homer to left field. Later in the stanza, Marcee Nakamura hit a 2-run single to right field.

The Bearcats cut the Boxers' advantage to 4-2 in the bottom of the first. Lund smacked a leadoff double to right center and Kelsey Wong (Jr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) followed with a bunt single. A pop-up bunt led to the first out. Mott batted next and reached base on a throwing error by the second baseman, allowing WU to load the bases. Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in Mott being throw out at second, while Lund scored. A throwing error at the end of the play sent Wong across the plate as Hillmick advanced to second.

Two runs in the top of the second and one run in the third increased Pacific's lead to 7-2. In the second, Kiana Kushiyama provided an RBI single and Vaught earned an RBI groundout. In the third, Jayden Sykes connected for an RBI single. The Boxers completed the scoring with one run each in the fourth and fifth stanzas, plus three runs in the sixth.

Starting pitcher Allie Hancock of Pacific threw the first five innings and limited WU to four hits. She struck out three batters and allowed one walk. Reliever Cheyenne Datan tossed the final two innings for the Boxers and added one strikeout.

Lund was 2 of 3 for the Bearcats with a double and a run scored. Wong and Gianna Marchese (Jr., 3B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) each provided one hit, while Hillmick recorded two RBIs. For Pacific, Martinez was 3 of 4 with two runs scored. Vaught finished 2 of 3 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs. Sykes was 2 of 2 with a run and two RBIs.

The Boxers received a combined shutout in the second game from pitchers Rylee Patton and Nykki Wada. Patton competed in the first six innings and allowed just two hits. She earned two strikeouts and did not have a walk. Wada gave up one hit and one walk in one inning of action.

Mott hit two singles, one down the right field line in the fourth inning and the other through the right side in the seventh inning. Hillmick provided an infield single to leadoff the bottom of the fifth.

Pacific scored one run in the second inning on an RBI double by Sydney Sahlfield and Vaught drove in the next run with a sacrifice fly in the third stanza. The Boxers held their 2-0 lead until the top of the fifth when Kushiyama hit an RBI double. In the sixth inning, a sacrifice fly by Nakamura and an RBI single by Haylie Uetake increased the advantage to 5-0. Pacific earned the final three runs in the top of the seventh.

After Mott singled in the bottom of the seventh, Adele Benny (So., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) entered the game as a pinch-runner. One out later, Benny was able to steal second base. Hillmick received a walk and then Kendra Knapp hit the ball into right field. The right fielder was able to turn the play into a fielder's choice as she threw out Hillmick at second base. A flyout ended the threat.

Jill Uyeda went 3 for 3 at the plate with a double and a run scored for Pacific. Michelle Winfield was 3 for 3 with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Hailey Miller completed the game 2 of 4 with a double and two RBIs.

The Bearcats will remain in Salem, Oregon, next weekend when they will host George Fox University in a four-game NWC series. The first doubleheader is set for Saturday, April 17 at 12 p.m. (PDT). The second twinbill is slated for Sunday, April 18, starting at 11 a.m.