Bearcats and Lutes Split Doubleheader

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- Nichole Robertson (Jr., RF, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS/Consumnes River Coll.) belted a two-run homer in the ninth inning of the second game to send Willamette University to a 12-10 victory over Pacific Lutheran University, as the Bearcats split a doubleheader on Sunday, March 6. Willamette moved to 3-7 overall, 3-5 in the Northwest Conference. PLU ended the day with a 4-4 overall mark, 3-1 in the NWC.

Pacific Lutheran won the first game, 10-2, on the run rule in five innings. The Lutes tallied all 10 runs in the second inning.

In the second game, WU held a 10-1 lead after 3 1/2 innings, with one run in the second inning, seven runs in the third and two in the fourth. Pacific Lutheran plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored four times in the seventh to force extra innings.

The Bearcats' success in the third inning resulted from four hits and two errors. Suzannah Von Trapp (Jr., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) opened the inning by walking, stealing second base and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Allison Martin (Fr., LF, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) reached on a dropped third strike to put runners at the corners.

Sierra Lessel (Jr., CF, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS) hit into a fielder's choice, but PLU failed to record an out and Von Trapp scored on the play. Martin reached home on a wild pitch and Lessel scored later on an error.

Talissa Huntsman (Jr. UT/P, Richland, WA/Richland HS) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Mica Romero (Jr., SS, Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian School) with the next run. The final three runs of the inning crossed the plate on a home run by Susie Krewer (Jr., 2B, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS).

In the fourth inning, Huntsman brought in two more runs with a double. She was 3 for 4 during the game with one run and four RBIs. She hit a leadoff home run in the second inning for a 1-1 tie.

PLU countered with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut WU's lead to 10-6. The Lutes earned six hits in the stanza, including a two-RBI single by Lindsey Matsunaga. Stacey Hagensen also provided an RBI, while one run scored on a fielding play and one run scored on a wild pitch.

The Lutes earned four additional runs in the seventh to tie the score. Hagensen singled to start the inning. One out later, Kaitlyn Lowery sent a two-run homer to center field. With two outs, Glenelle Nitta doubled and Matsunaga hit a game-tying home run.

Neither team scored in the eighth inning and Romero flied out to center field to start the ninth. Huntsman followed with a single down the left field line. Robertson's game-winning home run came next as the ball went over the left field fence.

Willamette starter Alex Watilo (Jr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS), who tossed the first 3 2/3 innings of the second game, returned to the mound for the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the season. Watilo faced just four batters in the bottom of the ninth after the Bearcats regained the lead.

Robertson was 2 for 5 and scored twice in Game 2. She helped WU achieve a total of 10 hits during the contest. Pacific Lutheran earned 15 hits in the game, but committed five errors, all in the first four innings. Hagensen was 3 for 3 with a run and two RBIs, while Matsunaga went 3 for 5 with a run and four RBIs.

In the first game, PLU's lengthy second inning did in the Bearcats. The Lutes, who had six hits in the stanza, plated three runs before Kaely Cuthill belted a grand slam. Mastunaga brought home the final three runs with a homer.

WU scored once in the fourth inning and once in the fifth. Jessica Barry (Jr., OF/DP, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS/UNLV) singled and stole two bases in the fourth before scoring on a ground out by Romero.

Kelli Snyder (So., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) started the fifth with a single. She scored two outs later on a double by Robertson, but the Bearcats were unable to score again to prevent the run rule from going into effect.

Hagensen (3-1) of PLU struck out three batters and allowed four hits to record the win in Game 1.

Willamette is scheduled to play a four-game NWC series at George Fox University next weekend. First pitch in Newberg, Ore., is set for 12 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, March 12 and for 12 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday, March 13.