By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- It's been a challenging year for the Willamette University softball team. First, the team had to get used to COVID-19 restrictions. Then smoke from wildfires prevented practices from being held. Then injuries impacted the roster and limited the pitching staff. Through it all, the Bearcats have continued to battle. Despite all of the problems and concerns, five WU softball players are batting above .300 this spring. They are Mia Lund (Fy., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS), Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS), Brianna Majors (So., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS), Kendra Knapp (So., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS), and Sophia Lucio (Fy., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS).

Lund tops the offensive chart with a .375 batting average (33 of 88) and has recorded a hit in 21 of 26 games. She has blasted six doubles and one home run. Lund leads the Bearcats with 17 runs and has recorded 11 RBIs. She is 15 of 16 on stolen bases.

"Mia has been a consistent threat for us in the leadoff spot," Willamette Head Coach Paige Hall said. "I have confidence in her scoring a run for us every time she gets on base. I am excited for her future at Willamette."

Mott is hitting .333 (25 of 75) for the Bearcats with seven doubles and one triple. She has contributed nine runs and nine RBIs. She also has pitched in 20 games, including 13 starts. She has registered 38 strikeouts from the circle. Majors owns a .310 average (27i of 87). Her totals include seven doubles, two triples, and a home run. She ranks first on the team with 17 RBIs and has crossed the plate 11 times.

Knapp has matches Majors with a .310 average (18 of 58). Knapp has supplied the Bearcat with two doubles, five runs, and four RBIs. Lucio is batting .309 (17 of 55) with seven runs and four RBIs. She is 7 for 7 on stolen bases. Lucio offers a strong challenge to opposing defenses because she is an accurate slapper with quality speed.

In addition to batting well over .300 for the season, Lund and Mott have each received 10 walks. Also, Mott has been hit by three pitches and Lund has been hit once. Lund ranks first for the Bearcats with a .440 on-base percentage, while Mott is second at .422.

Lund leads WU with a .477 slugging percentage. She is followed by Majors at .471 and Mott at .453.

"Through the challenges of this season, I am so proud of the fight we brought against George Fox, who now leads our conference," Hall commented "We could have very easily won three out of the four games against them, which shows me that this team is not ready to be done. We are on the rise and improving, which is important to me and exciting for this program."

Willamette will play a four-game Northwest Conference series at Linfield University this weekend. The Bearcats and the Wildcats are set to complete doubleheaders on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. (PDT) and for Saturday at 12 p.m.