By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) pitched a five-hitter to lead Willamette University to a 3-1 victory over the University of Puget Sound in the final game of a four-game Northwest Conference softball series on Sunday, March 6. The win at the WU Softball Field allowed the Bearcats to split Sunday's doubleheader while finishing with three wins in the series. In the first game on Sunday, Puget Sound defeated Willamette, 7-5.
The Bearcats opened the series on Saturday, by sweeping a doubleheader, 5-4 in nine innings and 7-3. Willamette is now 5-7 on the season, 3-4 in the NWC. The Loggers fell to 2-12 overall, 2-5 in the NWC.
"Our defense was spot-on this weekend and kept us in all four games," Willamette Head Softball Coach Paige Hall said. "Our pitchers had a few really great games, including Jordyn Johnson with double-digit strikeouts (15) in the first game of the series. Kenna Davis also threw well both days. There is a lot of exciting potential for the future of this program.
"The team really is coming together and meshing well," Hall continued. "We want the girls to compete and I feel like we are being scrappy and taking wins away from good teams."
Mia Lund (So., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) of Willamette went 4 of 6 at the plate on Sunday. In the first game, she went 3 of 4 with a single, a triple, and a home run.
Lead Changes Hands Twice before Loggers Win Opener
Neither team scored in the first three innings of the first game, but Puget Sound tallied three runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Savanna Smith singled and Jessica Moore doubled before Lauren Rice drove in the initial run with an infield single. Ema Kessler completed the three-run surge with a 2-run double.
Willamette reduced the margin to 3-1 when Lund smacked a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth. Hana DeGuzman walked for Puget Sound to start the fifth stanza and eventually scored, as the Loggers took a 4-1 lead.
The Bearcats rallied with four runs in the sixth inning to grab a 5-4 lead. During the frame, WU took advantage of four hits and two errors.
Lund singled to start the inning and stole second. With one out, she scored on a single by Marykate DeLuca (Jr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies), who pinch-hit for Davis. Davis re-entered on the base paths, went to second on a single by Cora Erickson (So., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS), and scored on a single near the left field line by Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS). WU added two unearned runs on fielding errors by the Loggers.
Puget Sound returned to the lead at 7-5 with a trio of runs in the top of the seventh. Rice and Kessler each hit an RBI single, while one run scored on an error. In the bottom half of the seventh, Lund reached base on an error by the shortstop with one out. A ground out to first base and a soft line-out to shortstop ended the game.
Lund finished the game with three-fourths of the cycle, plus two runs, two stolen bases, and an RBI. Four other Bearcats each had one hit.
The Loggers gained a 13-7 edge in hits, as Rice and Kessler each went 3 for 4. Rice scored twice and had two RBIs, while Kessler registered a double and three RBIs. Relief pitcher Kendall Gantz, 1-0, picked up the win for the Loggers with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Davis Limits Puget Sound to One Run in Second Game
Davis' complete-game effort led Willamette to a 3-1 win to split the doubleheader. In addition to allowing just five hits, Davis struck out two batters and gave up three walks. She improved to 2-0 on the season.
The Loggers scored a run in the top of the first inning. DeGuzman walked with one out, stole second, and scored on a two-out double by Smith.
Willamette countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) hit an infield single with one out and stole second base. Lund walked, and then Cassie Cosler (Sr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) hit the ball toward third. Benny beat the defender to the bag, as the Bearcats filled the bases. Both runners scored on a single to left by DeLuca.
The Bearcats added an insurance run in the fifth inning for a 3-1 advantage. Benny hit another infield single to start the inning before stealing second. With two outs DeLuca singled down the right field line on a full-count pitch to drive home Benny.
Puget Sound earned a hit with two outs in the sixth but didn't score. With the Loggers down to their final out in the seventh, Kendall Gantz reached base with a passed ball on a third strike, and Hailee Ueyama singled. The game ended when Majors ran from shortstop to catch a foul ball by DeGuzman just outside the left field line.
WU held a 7-5 edge in hits. Benny was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, while DeLuca went 2 of 3 with three RBIs. Kelsie Sullivan was 2 of 3 for Puget Sound.
The Bearcats will play at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, March 12 in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. (PST). The NWC weekend series will conclude with a doubleheader at PLU on Sunday, March 13 at 11 a.m. (PDT).
