By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University won the first game 3-2, and Lewis & Clark College took the second game 3-2, as the Bearcats and the Pioneers split the final Northwest Conference doubleheader of the regular season on Monday, April 14 at the Huston Sports Complex.

With the split, Willamette moved to 18-20 overall and 14-14 (4th place) in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats will compete in the NWC Softball Tournament on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 in McMinnville, Ore. WU will open the tournament against top-seeded Linfield College at 11 a.m. (PDT) on Friday.

Lewis & Clark ended its season with a 12-25 overall record, including 8-20 in the NWC.

Willamette and L&C were playing two games for the third day in a row. On Saturday and Sunday WU played Linfield College, while L&C took on Whitworth University. The games played on Monday were originally scheduled for Saturday, April 5, but the doubleheader was rained out.

The Bearcats have now played in 11 games in nine days, including six innings of a game suspended earlier in the year. The Pioneers have played in nine games in nine days.

Both teams had to be tired, but the players combined for eight extra-base hits during the twinbill, while all four pitchers kept the scoring down with complete-game performances.

Heather Winslow (Jr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) of Willamette hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the first game. Jenna King (Jr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS), who singled and stole second with one out, scored when Winslow's home run went over the center field fence.

Lindsay Yearman of L&C belted a solo homer to start the second inning and cut the led to 2-1. Caitlin Basilio doubled with two outs, but was left on base.

Willamette added an insurance run in the third. Winslow received a walk with two outs. She stole second, and then reached home on a double down the left field line by Erin Norris (Jr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS).

L&C had runners at second and third with one out in the fourth, but Hayley Glantz (Jr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) struck out Basilio and forced Hannah Dall Pra to ground out. The Pioneers scored a run in the sixth. Yearman walked, stole second and scored when Maddie Lee hit into an error.

The bottom of the seventh inning opened with a single by Haley Robinson of L&C. She went to second on a sacrifice bunt. A pop-up to Winslow at first and a grounder to short ended the game.

Kayla Rieger (Jr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) went 2 for 4 in the first game for Willamette. Winslow finished 1 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs. Yearman was 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI for L&C. Glantz earned the win, as she struck out four batters and allowed seven hits. Kalin Rooney took the loss for the Pioneers, despite giving up just six hits.

In the second game, L&C achieved two runs in the third. Lee singled and Kelsey Buck was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners, and then Tiana Rosario reached base on an error in center field. Lee scored, but Buck was thrown out at the plate. Rosario scored on a double byHannah Dal Pra.

Winslow walked in the sixth inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by King, and went home on a double by Ashley Pender (So., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valley HS).

Lewis & Clark's 2-1 lead expanded to 3-1 when Kylee Kennel crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Lee.

In the top of the seventh, Victoria Bradshaw (So., DP/P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) singled and Rieger doubled with no outs. One out later, Alex Shields (Fr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Bradshaw. Winslow was intentionally walked. King grounded out to third base.

Madison Hollenbeck of L&C registered the win to improve to 8-13. Jade Smith (Fr., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) fell to 12-6 with the loss.

The Pioneers outhit WU, 9-5. Lee went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Hollenbeck was 2 for 3. Five WU players had a hit, with Pender, Rieger and Amanda Absher (Jr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) pounding out a double.