By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University softball team pounded out 23 hits in two games against Lewis & Clark College on Friday, April 15 at the WU Softball Field, but the Pioneers won both games of the doubleheader, 7-5 and 10-3. Sophia Lucio (So., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) and Marykate DeLuca (Jr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) of Willamette both earned two hits for the Bearcats in both games.

Prior to the first game, Willamette honored its graduating seniors on Senior Day:  Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School), Kelsey Wong (Sr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), Cassie Cosler (Sr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS), and Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS). In addition, WU provided a rose to each of the seniors from Lewis & Clark.

The Pioneers finished with 18 hits, five fewer than the Bearcats, but L&C earned one homer and six doubles. L&C upped its record to 15-21, 10-16 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 8-28 overall, 5-21 in the NWC. The Bearcats will complete the season with a doubleheader at L&C on Saturday, April 16, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Willamette's Rally Falls Short in First Game

In the opener, Willamette trailed 3-1 after three innings, but the Pioneers added three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth for a 7-1 advantage. The Bearcats continued to battle and plated one run in the sixth inning before scoring three runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 7-5. The tying run was at the plate when the game ended.

L&C produced three runs in the top of the third. Kalea Kaui doubled to left and Pippi Jepsen pinch-ran. Jepsen reached third on a wild pitch. Katie Ingersoll walked and then Jepsen scored on a double-steal. Braylin Jenson hit an RBI double and later scored with one out on a double by Lily Moffitt.

Willamette scored a run in the bottom of the third. Mia Lund (So., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) singled to center and stole second. Lucio added a bunt single as Lund went to third. Lucio headed toward second, but was called out for leaving first while the ball was in the circle. Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) hit an RBI ground out.

All three of L&C's runs in the top of the fifth inning were scored on a bases-loaded double to center field by Mari Alvarez. The Pioneers led 6-1 at the end of the play. In the sixth, Ingersoll singled up the middle for L&C to start the inning and eventually scored an insurance run.

For WU in the bottom of the sixth, DeLuca singled with one out and pinch-runner Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) went to second on a single by Cora Erickson (So., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS). Cosler walked to load the bases. Fleckenstein reached base on an error at shortstop, as Benny crossed the plate. A double play ended the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Faith Collar (Fy., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) sent a single up the middle. With one out, Lucio hit an infield single toward third to move Collar to second. Majors reached base on a fielder's choice that allowed Collar to advance when the ball was misplayed by the shortstop. DeLuca belted a two-run single up the middle to drive in Collar and Lucio. Majors later scored on a fielder's choice, as DeLuca was thrown out at second. A pop-up ended the game.

Both teams had 10 hits. Collar was 2 of 2 for WU with a run scored. DeLuca went 2 of 4 with two RBIs, while Lucio was 2 of 4 and scored once. Moffitt and Jenson each recorded two hits for L&C. Cassidy Crusburg pitched all seven innings for the Pioneers to earn the win. Starter Jordyn Johnson (So., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) took the loss for Willamette.

Five Bearcats Earn Two Hits in Game 2, but WU Strands 10 Runners

Willamette earned 13 hits in the second game, but left 10 runners on base and committed four errors on defense. The Pioneers managed just eight hits but connected for two doubles and a home run.

The Bearcats started strong and led 3-1 after two innings. In the first, Lucio singled down the left field line, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a two-out single by DeLuca. After L&C tied the score in the top of the second, WU responded with a pair of runs. With two outs, Carrie Dose (So., 1B/P, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS/Buena Vista Univ.) blasted a double to right center and Lucio tacked on an infield single. A wild pitch sent Dose across the plate and Lucio to second. After Majors walked, Lund hit an RBI single.

Two unearned runs by the Pioneers tied the game in the top of the third. The tying run was scored on an RBI double by Olivia Brackin.

Lewis & Clark gained control with five runs in the fifth for an 8-3 edge. The first run went home on a sacrifice fly by Samantha Gildersleeve. Two additional runs scored on a homer by Brackin, and the final two runs of the inning scored on a dropped fly ball in center field. The Pioneers plated two runs in the seventh to claim the 10-3 final score.

Brackin was 4 of 4 for L&C as she hit for three-fourths of the cycle with two singles, a double, and a home run. She scored twice and drove in four runs. Willamette had five batters with two hits in the game. They were Lucio, Lund, DeLuca, Erickson, and Benny. Lucio scored two runs.