Salem, Ore. - Willamette softball swept the opening two games against Pacific University thanks to outstanding pitching performances and some fantastic defensive plays. Kenna Davis pitched a complete-game shutout in game one, allowing only two hits and striking out eight Boxers in a 1-0 Willamette victory. In game two, Lizzie Brasher and Maya Filger combined on a four-hitter in a 7-2 win.
The Bearcats started quickly in game one with Maris Pinheiro and Emma Elliott leading off the bottom of the first with singles, and Desirae Hatfield walking to load the bases. Faith Collar hit a sacrifice fly to score Pinheiro and give Willamette the early 1-0 lead.
Willamette threatened again in the bottom of the third when Elliott and Hatfield reached base with one out, but the Boxers kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard thanks to a good defensive play on a fly ball to center by Laurne Stube.
Davis kept Pacific off balance all afternoon, but the Boxers put some pressure on in the sixth with a lead-off double. After a sacrifice moved the runner to third, Davis was able to get the next two batters to pop up to second base to end the threat. Davis struck out two of the three batters she faced in the seventh to close out the win.
Pinheiro, Elliott, and Hatfield each had one hit for the Bearcats, who had the first-inning run hold up as the winning run.
Game two started with two more scoreless innings by each team before Willamette broke through in the bottom of the third. Mia Lund doubled to lead off the inning, Pinheiro walked, and Elliott was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Hatfield singled to score Lund with the first run and then Collar singled to score two more and put the Bearcats ahead 3-0.
Willamette added to their lead in the fourth. Mia Rogers led off with a single and pinch-runner Elizabeth Durrenberger later scored on a single by Lund. After a Pinheiro single loaded the bases, Elliott brought home two more runs with a double to center and Hatfield singled in one more to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Bearcats.
Pacific scored their only two runs of the day with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth, but could not get any more runs as Maya Filger came on to pitch the final two innings without giving up a hit and striking out three.
Collar and Rogers led the Bearcats with two hits in game two, while Collar, Elliott, and Hatfield each batted in two runs.
The teams are scheduled to complete the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 27th. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am.
