By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, and stayed in front the rest of the way, for a 3-2 victory over Eastern Oregon University in the second game of a doubleheader, as the Bearcats split the twinbill at the WU Softball Field on Sunday, Feb. 13. In the first game, Eastern Oregon edged the Bearcats 3-2 in eight innings.
The Mountaineers, who defeated WU 8-3 on Saturday, ended the day with a 2-1 record. Willamette moved to 2-3 on the season.
In the second game, WU's Carrie Dose (So., P/1B/3B, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS/Buena Vista Univ.) went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Kelsey Wong (Sr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) was 1 for 3 with a run, while Athena Vandyke was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Willamette pitcher Jordyn Johnson (So., Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) allowed two runs and six hits in the second game, while tossing all seven innings. She struck out four batters and gave up a walk, as she improved to 1-2. Mckenna Stallings, who pitched a complete game for Eastern Oregon during the second contest, did not allow an earned run but fell to 0-1 with the loss. Stallings gave up four hits and all three unearned runs.
For Willamette in the first game, Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Mia Lund (So., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) was 1 for 3 and also scored a run.
Willamette Scores Three Runs in First Inning of Game 2
After dropping the first game in extra innings, the Bearcats moved in front in the bottom of the first in the second game. With one out, Wong singled to right field and Lund walked. Dose followed with an infield hit toward third, loading the bases. With two outs, Cora Erickson (So., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) reached base on an error at shortstop. Wong scored on the play. Vandyke batted next and hit a popup toward the circle that fell in for a two-run single, as Lund and Dose crossed the plate, giving Willamette a 3-0 lead.
Eastern Oregon reduced the margin to 3-1 in the fifth. The inning began with a walk by Grace Gaither and a double by Berg that sent Gaither to third. Pinch-hitter Shelby Starr went to first on an error by Majors at shortstop, as Gaither scored. One out later, Berg was thrown out at third when Caitlin Crist hit into a fielder's choice. Two batters later, the Mountaineers left the bases loaded when Jenna Gray grounded out.
Hanna Tyree of EOU reached base on a fielder's choice in the sixth inning. Tyree went to third on a double by Gaither and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kayla Berg. WU led 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Dose batted first and hit a single for WU to left field. Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) pinch-ran and reached second on a ground out by Johnson. Erickson flied out to center, moving Benny to third, but Vandyke grounded out to end the stanza.
The Bearcats played solid defense in the seventh as they protected the lead. Audrey Kime singled up the middle for EOU to start the inning. Johnson threw out Crist on a sacrifice bunt, as Kime went to second. On the next ball in play, Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) charged in from third and threw out Madison Stateler at first base, while holding Kime at second. Gray grounded out to Majors at shortstop to end the game.
Berg was 2 of 2 with a double for EOU in the second game. Gaither also hit a double during the game for the Mountaineers.
Bearcats Fall to Mountaineers in Eight Innings in Game 1
Three runs were scored in the first inning of the opening game, with Eastern Oregon gaining a 2-1 edge. Crist walked as the leadoff batter, stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on a single by Stateler. Later, Stateler scored from third on an RBI single to right by Taylor Dow. In the bottom of the frame, Majors was hit by a pitch and stole second. She went to third on a ground out by Alexandra Richards (Fy., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) and scored on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Lund hit a leadoff single to right field and stole second. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch.
Neither team scored again until the top of the eighth, which was played with the international tie-breaker. During the tie-breaker, the last batter in the previous inning is placed on second base when their team begins an extra inning.
Tyree was placed on second to start the EOU half of the eighth inning. A single to right field by Dow moved Tyree to third base, with Dow going to second on the throw. Gaither hit into a 4-3-2 double play, as Tyree was thrown out at the plate for the second out. A walk resulted in runners at first and second. Karsyn Zaragoza hit into a throwing error at third, allowing Dow to score. A strikeout ended the inning.
For WU in the bottom of the eighth, Richards was placed at second base. Lund provided a sacrifice bunt toward first that advanced Richards to second. Wong hit a powerful line drive that Stateler caught at shortstop. EOU reliever Abby Giles struck out Johnson with a full-count pitch to end the game.
Giles earned four strikeouts in four innings and improved to 1-0. Berg, who started for EOU, pitched four innings and struck out three batters, while allowing three hits and both runs. Dow was 3 of 4 for EOU with a run and an RBI. Faith Collar (Fy., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS), now 0-1, tossed all eight innings for WU and struck out three batters.
Willamette will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 20 with a doubleheader at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. (PST).
