2010-11 Softball News

Season
Romero Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference
Romero Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University shortstop Mica Romero (Jr., Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian School), who led the Bearcats with a .374 batting average this spring, has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2011 season in voting by the league's head coaches. In addition, five Bearcats were selected Second Team All-NWC.

Bearcats Battle Linfield and Whitworth, but Fall at NWC Tournament
Bearcats Battle Linfield and Whitworth, but Fall at NWC Tournament

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University provided a solid battle against the nation's #1 team in Linfield College during the first game of the Northwest Conference Softball Tournament on Friday, April 22, but the Wildcats downed the Bearcats, 4-2. In Willamette's second game on Friday, the Bearcats played well again in a 5-4 loss to Whitworth University.

Willamette to Play Linfield in First Round of NWC Softball Tournament
Willamette to Play Linfield in First Round of NWC Softball Tournament

SALEM, ORE -- The Willamette University softball team, which closed out regular season Northwest Conference action with a 12-6 record in the final 18 games, is one of four teams set to compete at the 2011 NWC Softball Tournament on April 22-23 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.

Watilo Chosen NWC Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week
Watilo Chosen NWC Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Alex Watilo (Jr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) has been named Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Bearcats' games against Whitworth University on April 16-17.

Watilo Throws Nine Innings in 5-4 Win over Whitworth
Watilo Throws Nine Innings in 5-4 Win over Whitworth

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Junior pitcher Alex Watilo (Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) went the distance in the circle as Willamette University edged Whitworth University, 5-4 in nine innings, to start a doubleheader on Sunday, April 17. Whitworth, which also lost two games to the Bearcats on Saturday, prevented a series sweep, as the Pirates won Sunday's second game, 8-1.

Willamette Wins Two Games against Whitworth, Clinches NWC Tournament Berth
Willamette Wins Two Games against Whitworth, Clinches NWC Tournament Berth

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Talissa Huntsman (Jr., UT/RHP, Richland, WA/Richland HS) of Willamette University hit a double and a home run in the first game and earned the pitching victory in the second game, as the Bearcats swept a doubleheader from Whitworth University, winning 5-0 and 8-3 on Saturday, April 16 at Marks Field. Alex Watilo (Jr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) pitched a complete-game three-hitter for Willamette in the opener.

Wildcats Defeat Bearcats in NWC Action, 8-5 and 9-3
Wildcats Defeat Bearcats in NWC Action, 8-5 and 9-3

SALEM, ORE. -- Linfield College held off a Willamette University rally in the first game and built a 5-1 lead through five innings in the second game, as the Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 8-5 and 9-3, in a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 10 at the WU Softball Field. Claire Velaski (8-1) and Lauren Harvey (10-0) picked up the pitching wins for Linfield.

Top-Ranked Linfield Edges Bearcats in Two Games
Top-Ranked Linfield Edges Bearcats in Two Games

SALEM, ORE. -- Linfield College, ranked #1 in the NCAA Division III Top 25 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), defeated Willamette University in a Northwest Conference doubleheader, 3-0 and 2-0 on Saturday, April 9 at the WU Softball Field. Linfield upped its record to 31-2 overall, 20-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 15-14 on the season, 12-9 in the NWC.

Watilo Pitches Shutout, as Bearcats Defeat Loggers, 1-0
Watilo Pitches Shutout, as Bearcats Defeat Loggers, 1-0

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Alex Watilo (RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) tossed a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Bearcats to a 1-0 shutout victory over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, April 9. The game was played at the WU Softball Field following Willamette's doubleheader with Linfield College.

Willamette Limits George Fox to One Run in Doubleheader Sweep, 8-1 and 6-0
Willamette Limits George Fox to One Run in Doubleheader Sweep, 8-1 and 6-0

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University held George Fox University to just one run in two games, as the Bearcats swept a doubleheader from the Bruins, 8-1 and 6-0, on Friday, April 8 at Morse Field. With the victories, Willamette improved to 15-12 overall, 12-7 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are third in the NWC standings. GFU dropped to 9-21 overall, 3-15 in the NWC.

Softball Changes Schedule for Saturday to Tripleheader
Softball Changes Schedule for Saturday to Tripleheader

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball schedule of games for Saturday, April 9 has been changed and will now be a tripleheader at the WU Softball Field. Willamette and #1-ranked Linfield College, will still play a doubleheader as originally scheduled, but first pitch will be at 11 a.m. (PDT), one hour earlier than planned. The day's schedule with conclude with a single game against the University of Puget Sound, set to start at 4 p.m.

Softball Games at George Fox Delayed until Friday
Softball Games at George Fox Delayed until Friday

NEWBERG, ORE. -- The softball doubleheader between Willamette University and George Fox University scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 has been postponed until Friday, April 8 due to the weather and wet conditions at Morse Field in Newberg, Ore.

Romero Selected NWC Softball Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week
Romero Selected NWC Softball Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Junior shortstop Mica Romero (Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian School) from Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Softball Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week for games played between March 28 and April 3. Romero hit .600 during the week (12 of 20), while scoring 12 runs and earning five RBIs.

WU Wins 8-5 and 9-2 in Doubleheader to Sweep Series with Pioneers
WU Wins 8-5 and 9-2 in Doubleheader to Sweep Series with Pioneers

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University completed a four-game sweep of Northwest Conference opponent Lewis & Clark College by winning both games of a doubleheader, 8-5 and 9-2, on Sunday, March 3 at the WU Softball Field. The Bearcats are 13-12 on the season, 10-7 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark fell to 7-20 overall, 1-15 in the NWC.

Willamette Defeats Lewis & Clark Twice on Run Rule, 12-1 and 9-1
Willamette Defeats Lewis & Clark Twice on Run Rule, 12-1 and 9-1

SALEM, ORE. -- Susie Krewer (Jr., LF/2B, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS) smacked a two-run homer in the first game and Hope Kloczko (So., C, Cameron Park, CA/Oak Ridge HS) blasted a three-run homer in the second game, as Willamette University swept a Northwest Conference doubleheader from visiting Lewis and Clark College on Saturday, April 2. The Bearcats won 12-1 and 9-1, claiming both victories on the run rule in five innings.

Willamette Splits Doubleheader at George Fox
Willamette Splits Doubleheader at George Fox

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University and George Fox University split a Northwest Conference doubleheader at Morse Field on Thursday, March 31. Willamette was victorious in the first game, 7-3, while the Bruins won the second game, 4-3. Both games were part of a rescheduled doubleheader that was originally slated for March 12, but was postponed due to the weather.