By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore- The Willamette University softball team split a Northwest Conference doubleheader with visiting Pacific University on Friday, March 18. The Bearcats dropped the opener but erupted for 10 runs in the sixth inning to take game two, 12-7. Willamette moves to 6-11 overall and 4-8 in the NWC. Pacific stands at 5-13 and 4-6 in the conference.

Boxers Force Extra Innings and Claim Game One 12-6 

The teams battled into extra innings in game one with Pacific coming out on top 12-6, scoring eight runs in the top of the ninth. The Bearcats rallied for a pair in the bottom half before the Boxers closed out the inning.

The Boxers struck first, putting two runs on the board in the first inning. They led-off the game with a pair of singles and later plated two runs with back-to-back sacrifice fly outs. Willamette countered with one run in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a walk and two hit batters to set up a sacrifice fly from Marykate DeLuca (Jr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies).

The Bearcats plated three runs in the third to pull in front 4-2. Kelsey Wong (Sr., UT, Honolulu, HA/Punahou School) reached on a single and came around to score on a double from Mia Lund (So., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS). Cassie Cosler (Sr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) followed up with a single to score Lund, and DeLuca scored on an RBI single from Kendra Knapp (Jr., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS).

Carli Zanassi hit a solo homerun in the fifth and pinch-runner Jordyn Moulett-Dozier came across on a sacrifice fly to knot the game, 4-4, in the sixth inning. The teams remained scoreless for the next two innings, sending the game to the top of the ninth.

The Boxers bats came alive as they produced eight runs on eight hits, led by a two-RBI single from Rylee Patton. That stretched the lead to 12-4, putting the pressure on the Bearcats in the bottom of the extra frame.

Senior Gianna Marchese (3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS) looked to get the Bearcats rolling with a pinch-hit single to lead off. Lund drew a two-out walk and stole second to set the stage for a two RBI single from DeLuca to cut the deficit to 12-6. Pacific was able to get the final out to claim the opener.

Six different players recorded lone hits for the bearcats. DeLuca led the offense with two RBIs while Wong and Lund each scored twice. Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) had a solid start in the circle, allowing just three runs while recording four strikeouts.

Bearcats Erupt for 10 Runs in the Sixth to Win Game Two

Willamette scored first in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Brianna Majors (JR., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) drew a lead-off walk, stole second, and move to third on a sacrifice bunt by Wong. DeLuca lofted a sacrifice fly to score Majors and put the Bearcats on the board.

Pacific answered with three runs in the second inning and added four in the fifth to lead 7-2. Willamette had scored a lone run in the fourth to make the score 3-2. Lund singled and pinch-runner Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) later made her way home with the help of a stolen base and a Pacific error.

The Bearcats totally turned the tide in the sixth, erupting with 10 runs on nine hits. The offense came quickly as Marchese led off with a double and immediately came around on a two-run homer from Lund. Knapp launched a two-run shot to cut the margin to 7-6 before the Boxers could record a single out.

Davis and Majors strung together back-to-back singles, followed by three straight walks to plate two more runs and put the Bearcats in front, 8-7. Lund singled in another and Jewel Fleckenstein (Sr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) drove in two runs with a base-hit up the middle. Faith Collar (Fy., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) closed out the scoring with a double to left field, scoring Lund for the final of 12-7.

Lund led the way, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Fleckenstein went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Majors added a pair of hits, going 2-for-3 while scoring twice in the nightcap. DeLuca and Knapp each drove in two runs as Willamette combined for 11 hits and 12 RBIs.

Carrie Dose (So., P/1B/3B, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS) went five innings in the start before Davis came on to earn the win with a pair of scoreless innings in relief. Davis allowed just two hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts.

Willamette will host another doubleheader with Pacific on Sunday, March 20. The first game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (PDT) start.