Willamette and Pacific Split Doubleheader

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Alex Watilo (Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) threw a complete-game three-hitter to lead the Bearcats to a 3-1 win over Pacific University in the second game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 26. The victory allowed the Bearcats to split the doubleheader at the WU Softball Field after Pacific won the opener 9-4.

The Bearcats are now 1-3 on the season, 1-1 in the NWC. Pacific moved to 5-2 overall, 1-1 in the conference.

Watilo threw just 63 pitches, including 44 strikes, to earn the win. All three hits against her were singles. Watilo struck out two batters and did not allow a walk.

Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Allison Martin (Fr., RF/C, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) opened the inning with a walk, and then stole second base. Yvonne Drabin (So., OF, Freemont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) reached first base on a dropped third strike, followed by an errant throw from the catcher. Martin reached third on the play.

With Mica Romero (Jr., SS, Woodland, CA/woodland Christian School) batting, Drabin stole second. Romero grounded out to second base to drive in Martin with the game's first run. Drabin scored when Talissa Huntsman (Jr., UT/P, Richland, WA/Richland HS) reached base on a fielder's choice.

The Boxers cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fourth. Stephanie Vanoudenhaegen singled. She moved to third when Becca Moen reached first base on a throwing error. Venoudenhaegen scored on a sacrifice fly by Chelsey Chamberlain. WU got out of the inning with Moen on second base.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Willamette tacked on an insurance run.

Huntsman doubled to start the rally and advanced to second when Hope Kloczko (So., C, Cameron Park, CA/Oak Ridge HS) walked. Susie Krewer (Jr., 2B, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS) bunted the runners to second and third. Huntsman scored on the next play, as pinch-hitter Kiley Herrick (So., IF, Calusa, CA/Colusa HS) reached base on an error by the shortstop.

Pinch-runner Nichole Robertson (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS/Cosumnes River College) attempted to score from second on the play, but was thrown out at the plate. Pacific pitcher Shannon Miller caused Suzannah Von Trapp (Jr., 3B, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) to ground out to end the inning.

Watilo moved to 1-0 with the win. Miller took the loss and fell to 2-2.

In the first game, Pacific built a 6-0 advantage, but Willamette almost rallied to take the lead.

The Boxers tallied one run in the first inning. They added two more runs in the second stanza, as Moen doubled and Lauren Tuey followed with a home run to left center.

Pacific used an infield single by Moen and a bunt single by Tuey to but the first two runners on base in the top of the fourth. Jenna Stevens provided a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position.

Vanoudenhaegen reached first base on an error to load the bases. One out later, a wild pitch brought home Moen, giving the Boxers a 4-0 lead. Chamberlain lined out to right field to end the inning.

Moen and Stevens hit RBI singles for Pacific in the top of the fifth inning, before the Bearcats began their rally with one run in the bottom of the stanza.

Jessica Barry (Jr., OF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS/UNLV) pinch-hit for Von Trapp. After Barry Walked, Von Trapp re-entered the game. She went to second on a single by Martin, moved to third on a successful double steal and scored on a ground out to second by Drabin.

WU added three runs -- and nearly had three more -- in the bottom of the sixth. Kelli Snyder (So., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) singled up the middle to start the inning. Krewer followed with a double. Emily Bray (So., 1B, Martinez, CA/Alhambra HS) hit a fly ball to very shallow left field that was dropped, allowing Snyder to score and Krewer to take third.

Martin also reached on an error to send Krewer across the plate, cutting the margin to 6-3. Drabin tacked on an RBI single. After Romero singled, Huntsman went to the plate and powered the second hit she faced into left center.

Vanouddenhaegen, playing in center field, caught the ball with her glove just above the four-foot fence. Without the catch, Huntsman would have given WU a 7-6 lead with a 3-run homer. Instead, Pacific retained a 6-4 lead and added three runs in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

Pacific pitcher Rylee Parke upped her record to 3-0. She struck out five batters and allowed three walks. WU starter Bri Compton (Sr., P, Kalispell, MT/Flathead HS/Wenatchee CC) fell to 0-2. She allowed six runs, but only three were earned. She struck out three batters and conceded two walks.

The Boxers achieved 11 hits in the opener, while WU finished with nine. Tuey was 2 for 3, Moen went 3 for 3 and Stevens was 2 for 3 for Pacific. Kloczko of WU earned two hits in two at bats. Seven Bearcats contributed one hit apiece.

Willamette and Pacific will complete the four-game NWC series on Sunday, Feb. 27. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PST) at the WU Softball Field.