Willamette Splits with Whittier behind Watilo's One-Hitter

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

WHITTIER, CALIF. -- Willamette University received a standout effort from pitcher Alex Watilo (Jr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) to defeat Whittier College, 8-0, on the run rule in six innings, in the second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 22. The Bearcats lost an extra-inning barnburner to Whittier in the opener, 8-7 in eight innings.

In the second game, Watilo (4-2) pitched all six innings and allowed just one hit, a single with two outs in the third inning. Watilo registered two strikeouts and gave up three walks. The Poets never got a runner past second base.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats piled up 11 hits, including home runs by Kelli Snyder (So., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS), Susie Krewer (Jr., UT, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS) and Mica Romero (Jr., SS, Woodland, CA/Woodland Christian School). WU also received doubles from Romero, Snyder and Sierra Lessel (Jr., CF, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS).

WU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Snyder singled to open the inning and Kiley Herrick (So., IF, Colusa, CA/Colusa HS) was hit by a pitch with one out. Lessel doubled to left center to send Snyder across the plate.

Herrick scored when Allison Martin (Fr., LF/C, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) reached base on an unsuccessful fielder's choice. Lessel also scored on the play when Martin rounded first and was caught in a run-down.

Lessel earned a single with one out in the fourth inning and later tallied the Bearcats' fourth run.

In the fifth, Romero doubled and then scored on Snyder's home run to left center. In the sixth, Krewer hit a leadoff home run to center field and Romero homered to left field with two outs.

During the first game, Whittier rallied from a three-run deficit twice. The Poets trailed 3-0 after 3 1/2 innings, but tallied four runs in the bottom of the fourth. WU eventually tied the score at 4-4 to force an extra-inning.

In the top of the eighth, the Bearcats scored three times to take a 7-4 lead. Whittier responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to claim the win.

WU jumped in front with two runs in the top of the second. Nichole Robertson (Jr., RF, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS/Cosumnes River Coll.) walked to start the inning and Suzannah Von Trapp (Jr., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) followed with a single.

Robertson stole second and third. She scored on a base hit by Bri Compton (Sr., RHP, Kalispell, MT/Flathead HS/Wenatchee CC). Compton also scored during the inning.

Yvonne Drabin (So., OF, Freemont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) walked for WU to begin the third stanza and scored two batters later on a single by Talissa Huntman (Jr., UT/P, Richland, WA/Richland HS).

Whittier recorded four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. The first two runs scored on a single by Ashley Perez with one out and runners at second and third. Nikki Mendoza singled before Brenda Thompson popped out on a bunt. Cindy Loza doubled to drive home Perez and Mendoza.

The Bearcats produced a tying run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Jessica Barry (Jr., OF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS/UNLV) singled to left and stole second. Barry reached third when the Poets tried to throw her out on a grounder by Snyder, and then scored when the throw went into left field.

Cindy Loza walked to start the bottom of the seventh. With one out, she tried to score on a double by Molly Yriarte, but was thrown out at the plate.

The teams used the international tie-breaker in the eighth inning. Each team began its at bat with the last batter from the previous inning placed on second base.

For WU, it was Romero who started at second. She stole third and scored on a bunt single by Huntsman. The Bearcats added two more runs for a 7-4 lead, when Herrick scored on a ground out by Kate Schimmel (Fr., SS, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) and Robertson scored on a single by Lessel.

Whittier used three hits and two errors to push across four runs in the bottom of the inning.

With one run in and the bases loaded, Thompson singled down the left field line to drive in two runs and tie the score. Loza reached base on an infield error to load the bases. Mickala Gonzales then hit the ball into center field. The ball was misplayed, allowing Mendoza to score the winning run.

The Bearcats ended the day with a 4-10 overall record. Whittier moved to 17-7 on the season.

Willamette is set to play the University of La Verne and Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday, March 23 at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, Calif. First pitch against La Verne is slated for 1 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will take on Pomona-Pitzer at 3 p.m.