By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NEWBERG, Ore. -- Willamette University softball player Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) registered three hits during a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8, and has now produced at least one hit in 10 of the last 11 games for the Bearcats. Despite her efforts, George Fox won 6-3 and 7-1 during Sunday's twinbill. The Bruins upped their record to 20-12 overall, 13-7 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 13-21 overall, 8-16 in the NWC.
Elliott has gone 16 for 31 during her 11-game surge for a batting average of .516. For the season, she is second among top players on the team with a .382 batting average.
GFU pitcher Ashley Davis limited WU to five hits in the first game while striking out six Bearcats. In the second game, Jenna Kister gave up only five hits in five innings, while Kami Gibson finished the game for the Bruins with two scoreless and hitless innings.
In the opening game, Elliott was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, and Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) was 2 for 3 with two doubles and three RBIs. Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies), who hit a double in the first game, was 2 for 3 with another double and an RBI in the second game. DeLuca was 3 for 6 on the day.
Willamette will close out the season with four games against NWC rival Lewis & Clark College. On Saturday, April 15, the Bearcats and the Pioneers will play a doubleheader at WU Softball Field in Salem, Oregon, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will play the final two games of the series at Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, April 16, starting at 11 a.m.
Majors Belts Two Doubles in First Game
Majors played a strong first game for the Bearcats, with her two doubles leading to all three of Willamette's RBIs. Majors also contributed a putout and two assists on defense.
Each team scored one run in the first inning. For the Bearcats, Elliott singled to open the game, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kendra Knapp (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS), and scored with two outs on Majors' first double. For George Fox, Kamryn Potter blasted a leadoff homer.
WU starting pitcher Abigail Loomis (Fy., P/OF, Canby, OR/Canby HS) maintained the 1-1 tie until two outs in the bottom of the fourth, when the Boxers plated five runs. The two-out rally began with a solo home run by Aliva Harmon and a solo homer by Sydney Sandifer. Later, Kimberly Pulido added an RBI single and Potter drove in two runs with a single to left.
In the top of the sixth, the Bearcats scored twice to pull within 6-3. Elliiott singled with one out and DeLuca hit a double down the right field line to place runners at the corners. Majors hit a two-run double to left field.
Potter was 2 of 3 with one run scored, a homer, and three RBIs. Sandifer also was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a homer. Sandifer earned one RBI.
DeLuca Hits 17th Double of Season in Second Game
Deluca's second double of the doubleheader was in the third inning of the second game. It was her 17th double of the season and it gave Willamette a 1-0 lead. Elliott, who singled to open the stanza, scored on the play.
The Bruins took the lead in the bottom of the third on consecutive solo home runs by Potter and Sharon Tomei. GFU plated one run in fourth and three runs in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. The Bruins tacked on a run in the sixth to complete the scoring. Sandifer hit a leadoff homer in the fourth, while Emma Classen connected on a solo homer in the fifth. Harmon drove in the run in the sixth with a groundout to shortstop.
DeLuca hit a leadoff single for WU in the top of the sixth. She was thrown out at second a bit later on a fielder's choice. DeLuca's two hits led the way, while Elliott, Julia Koorn (Jr., 1B/3B, Purmerend, Netherlands), an Alexandra Richards (So., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) each provided one hit during the game.
