By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) of Willamette University went 4 of 6 against Linfield University on Monday, March 27 at the WU Softball Field, as the Bearcats completed a game suspended on Sunday, March 26 and then played the final game of a four-game series. Linfield, which led 5-3 in the suspended game when the action was stopped in the top of the fifth inning due to the weather, eventually won the game 10-4. The Wildcats also earned a victory in the full game on Monday, achieving an 11-2 win on the run rule in six innings.
Linfield, ranked #9 in the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll, advanced its record to 18-2 overall, including 8-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette ended the day at 13-13 on the season, 8-8 in the NWC.
Majors was 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs in the final game of the series. She went 1 for 3 with a run scored in the game that started on Sunday and ended on Monday. Majors is batting .326 for the season.
Willamette will be in action on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 when the Bearcats host Whitworth University in two doubleheaders. The first twinbill is set to get underway at 12 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday, with the second doubleheader slated to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Erickson and Marchese Each Go 2 of 3 in Suspended Game
Cora Erickson (Jr., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) and Gianna Marchese (Grad., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) each provided Willamette with two hits in the suspended game that was completed on Monday. They both went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Marchese also earned a double and an RBI. Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) of WU was 1 of 3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs.
Linfield scored first on Saturday with three runs in the opening stanza. Baily Paul hit a double to start the game. Kaili Saathoff drove in Paul with a double down the left field line. Katie Phillips batted next and connected on a two-run homer. WU answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to pull within 3-2. Erickson singled with one out and Majors hit an infield single near the circle. Elliott pounded a two-run double into right center.
The next two innings were scoreless, before Linfield plated two runs in the top of the fourth and the Bearcats added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Bynn Nelson hit a solo home run for the Wildcats. Marchese was credited with an RBI single for Willamette. Elliott, who reached first on an error by the shortstop and went to second on a sacrifice bunt, scored on Marchese's hit. The Wildcats held a 5-3 advantage when play was stopped in the top of the fifth.
On Monday, the teams did not score in the fifth or sixth innings, but the Wildcats plated five runs in the top of the seventh to expand its two-run lead. The surge by Linfield included a solo homer by Ashley Sutton, a solo homer by Paul, and a two-run homer by Phillips. Cydney Hess hit an RBI single.
In the bottom of the seventh, Willamette sent seven players to the plate, and the Bearcats registered three hits. WU scored one run and ended the game with runners at first and third. Marchese, who doubled with one out, scored the run after an error by the catcher.
Majors Provides WU with Three Hits in Final Game of Series
The four-game series ended with an 11-2 win by the Wildcats. Linfield pitcher Tayah Kelley picked up her third win of the series as she improved to 12-0 on the season. She allowed seven hits and two runs while throwing the first five innings. She earned nine strikeouts and gave up just one walk. Kelly had difficulty with Majors on Monday, as the Willamette shortstop went 3 for 3, while hitting a double and driving in two runs. Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) was 2 of 3 for the Bearcats and also hit a double.
Willamette scored the game's initial run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, DeLuca singled through the right side and Majors belted an RBI double into left center. Linfield tallied four runs in the third inning to build a 4-1 lead. The offensive burst included a two-run single by Phillips. Linfield tacked on two runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth for an 8-1 edge.
The Bearcats plated their second run in the bottom of the fifth. Mia Lund (Jr., UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) hit a single with one out, and DeLuca advanced Lund to third base with a two-out double to left field. Majors drove Lund across the plate with a single to left. Linfield scored three times in the top of the sixth. Claire Seats blasted a two-run homer and Nelson supplied an RBI double. Nelson finished the game 3 for 3 with one run scored.
