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

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

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.

The games were played to make-up a doubleheader which was rained out on March 13. With the sweep on Friday, the Bearcats have won three of four games with the Bruins this season.

Junior pitcher Alex Watilo (RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) tossed a one-hitter in the second game, while moving her record to 12-3 on the season. Watilo struck out seven batters and did not allow a walk. Talissa Huntsman (Jr., P/UT, Richland, WA/Richland HS) recorded the win in the first game, while pitching all seven innings.

On offense, Mica Romero (Jr., SS, Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian HS) went 4 for 8 on the day with three runs and five RBIs. She belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning of the second game, helping WU extend a 2-0 lead into the final 6-0 margin. Romero hit two doubles in the first game.

Susie Krewer (Jr., 2B/OF, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS) was 4 for 7 during the twinbill for Willamette. She scored once, had a sacrifice bunt and earned two RBIs.

In the opener, Romero doubled with one out in the first inning. She scored with two outs on a single down the right field line by Huntsman, giving WU a 1-0 lead.

The Bearcats took control of the game by bringing six runs across the plate in the top of the second. During the mammoth inning, Willamette sent 12 batters to plate and produced five hits, while GFU committed five errors.

Romero blasted an RBI double during the six-run inning. WU also received run-scoring singles from Kelli Snyder (So., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) and Krewer. Suzannah Von Trapp (Jr., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) drove in a run when she reached base on a fielder's choice. With five errors by GFU, only one of the six runs was earned.

George Fox put up its only run of the afternoon in the sixth inning of the first game. Nicole Renteria doubled to left field to open the stanza. Kris Trindle hit an infield single to first base to advance Renteria to third. Bethany Chriss earned an RBI with a single that allowed Renteria to score.

Huntsman used a strikeout and a pop-up to slow the Bruins' rally. An infield error allowed Becka Doyle to reach base and Chriss to move to second. The next batter, Kerrianne Davidson, hit into a fielder's choice and Chriss was thrown out at third to end the inning.

WU tallied the final run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Krewer singled to right center. Hope Kloczko (So., C/DP, Cameron Park, CA/Oak Ridge HS) and Courtney Galli (So., 2B/SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) also singled, allowing Krewer to round the bases.

Huntsman improved to 2-2 with the win. She registered four strikeouts and allowed seven hits, while walking one batter. Kloczko was 3 for 4 at the plate, while Galli was 2 for 3. Romero, Huntsman and Krewer each finished the game 2 for 4, as the Bearcats amassed 14 hits. Trindle let George Fox with a 2-for-4 performance.

While Watilo mastered the Bruins in the second game, the Bearcats needed a few innings to place runs on the scoreboard.

After four innings the teams were tied 0-0 and each squad had just one hit, a double by Nichole Robertson (Jr., RF, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS/Cosumnes River Coll) for WU in the top of the fourth and a single by Renteria for GFU in the bottom of the fourth. In each case the runner eventually reached third, but Watilo and George Fox pitcher Erin Hento kept the scoreless tie intact.

Willamette gained its first two run of the contest in the fifth inning. Galli singles and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Snyder. A line drive was caught by Davidson at third base to keep Galli at second, but Sierra Lessel (Jr., CF, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS) doubled to right field to drive in the run. Romero followed with a single to center, as Lessel scored the second run.

Romero's homer bought in the first three runs in WU's four-run seventh inning. After the homer, Robertson walked, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Krewer.

Three Bearcats chipped in two hits apiece in Game 2. Romero went 2 for 4 with a run and four RBIs. Lessel also went 2 for 4 and scored twice, while earning one RBI. Krewer was 2 for 3 and registered one RBI. Willamette had eight hits during the game.

Up next for WU is a tripleheader on Saturday, April 9 at the WU softball field. The Bearcats will take on the #1-ranked team in NCAA Division III, nearby rival Linfield College, in the first two games, starting at 11 a.m. (PDT).

The third contest will be a make-up game with the University of Puget Sound. It is slated to start at 4 p.m. (PDT), but may get underway earlier if both teams are ready. WU and UPS completed three games in their four-game series March 26-27, but the fourth game was postponed due to the weather.