By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University pounded out four home runs in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader at the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, March 5 for a 13-2 victory on the run rule in five innings. In the second game, WU pitcher Kenna Davis (So., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) tossed a four-hit shutout while striking out eight batters in a 3-0 win. The Bearcats improved to 7-5 on the season, 2-0 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 3-5 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.
The teams are scheduled to conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader at Puget Sound on Sunday, March 5. The first game is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PST).
In the opener, Willamette's home runs were hit by Mia Lund (Jr., UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS), Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies), Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS), and Carrie Dose (Sr., 1B/P, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS/Buena Vista Univ.). Lund, Majors, and Kendra Knapp (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) each added a double during the game. In the second game, Knapp and DeLuca each belted a double.
"We had a great day at the plate all the way around," Willamette Head Softball Coach Paige Hall commented. "Our pitchers also threw well with Kenna Davis throwing another shutout."
Davis advanced her record to 4-2 with her third shutout. She has a 1.69 earned run average. In the first game, Jordyn Johnson (Jr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) evened her record at 2-2 after allowing five hits and two runs, while recording four strikeouts.
Bearcats Blast Four Homers in 13-2 Victory
Willamette's four homers and three doubles in the first game, helped the Bearcats grab a 13-2 win on the run rule. Seven Bearcats each contributed at least one hit as Willamette earned 10 hits overall.
Lund got things off to a great start for the Bearcats when she opened the top of the first inning with a solo home run. Johnson limited the Loggers to just one hit in each of the first two innings to maintain Willamette's 1-0 lead.
The Bearcats plated six runs in the third inning to take control. The inning began with a double by Knapp and a single by DeLuca. Majors followed with an RBI double to right field and Dose belted a three-run homer. Later in the inning, Cora Erickson (Jr., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) drove in Faith Collar (So., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) with an RBI single, and Lund brought home in Erickson with a double for a 7-0 advantage.
Willamette's lead reached 9-0 in the top of the fourth as Majors blasted a solo home run with one out. Dose followed with a walk, went to second and third on passed balls, and scored when Collar hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Puget Sound scored both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Emily Moore doubled and Hope Fleischman singled. A groundout advanced the runners to second and third. Ema Kessler hit a two-run double to center field.
Four runs were plated by the Bearcats in the top of the fifth to complete the scoring. The highlight of the inning was a three-run homer by DeLuca. Johnson faced just four batters in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
DeLuca was 2 of 4 with two runs and three RBIs. Lund and Majors each went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs. Dose finished 1 for 2 with two runs, one walk, and three RBIs. Fleischman was 2 for 2 with a run scored for the Loggers.
Davis Pitches Four-Hit Shutout as Bearcats Win 3-0
In the second game, Davis led the way with her strong pitching performance. She allowed just four hits -- all singles -- and accumulated eight strikeouts. She walked one batter during the complete-game win.
While Davis was shutting out the Loggers, the Willamette offense scored one run in the second inning and two runs in the fifth. During the second inning, Collar singled to right field with one out and stole second base. Gianna Marchese (Grad., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) walked, and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With two outs, Collar scored on an error by the catcher.
Julia Koorn (Jr., 1B/3B, Purmerend, Netherlands) walked for WU to start the fifth inning. Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) pinch-ran and went to second on a passed ball. She reached third on a groundout by Alexandra Richards (Fy., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Lund. Knapp batted next and hit a double. DeLuca drove Knapp across the plate with a single to center.
DeLuca was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI for the Bearcats. Collar went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Four players each recorded one hit for Puget Sound.
