Bearcats Win Two Games versus Puget Sound, 2-0 and 10-2

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Alex Watilo (Sr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) threw a complete-game four-hitter in the first game, and Heather Winslow (Fr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) blasted a two-run homer in the second game, as Willamette University swept a doubleheader from the University of Puget Sound, 2-0 and 10-2 on the run rule in five innings, Sunday, March 25 at the WU Softball Field.

Willamette improved to 13-8 on the season, 12-4 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound fell to 2-20, including 2-14 in the NWC.

Watilo pitched a strong game in the opener. She struck out eight batters and allowed just one walk. Puget Sound earned one extra-base hit, a double by Brianna Huber in the fourth inning. Watilo threw a total of 99 pitches with 74 hitting the strike zone.

Elayna Van Hess, who pitched for the Loggers in the first game, also had a solid performance. Van Hess limited the Bearcats to five hits and struck out five batters. She gave up four walks and allowed three leadoff hits -- in the first, third and fourth innings.

Willamette's first run was scored in the first inning after one of the leadoff hits. Jessica Barry (Jr., OF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS/UNLV) singled up the middle and stole second base. With one out, she moved to third on a wild pitch. Barry scored when Winslow grounded out to second base.

Yvonne Drabin (Jr., CF, Freemont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) in the third stanza and Mica Romero (Sr., SS, Woodland, CA/woodland Christian School) in the fourth inning each belted a double down the left field line. In both cases a foul ball was caught for the first out of the inning. Drabin and Romero were both thrown out at third on a fielder's choice for the second out.

Even so, Willamette ended the third inning with two runners on base and left one runner on base in the fourth. The Bearcats continued to lead 1-0, but added an insurance run with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth.

Barry started the rally with a walk. Kelli Snyder (Jr., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) pinch-hit and singled to send Barry to third. Suzannah Von Trapp (Sr., 3B/DP, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) re-entered the game for Snyder and stole second base. Winslow walked to load the bases and Romero walked to bring Barry across the plate.

UPS threatened to rally in the sixth, as Jenica Holt singled with one out. Holt was thrown out when Huber hit into a fielder's choice. Aryn Grause followed with a slow roller toward second base, but the ball bounced off the foot of Holt, who was called out for runner's interference. Watilo faced four batters in the seventh to secure the win.

Winslow's home run, plus a 2-for-3 effort from both Drabin and Romero, powered Willamette's win in the second game. Meanwhile, WU pitcher Hayley Glantz (Fr., RHP, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) tossed a four-hitter. She earned one strikeout and allowed one walk.

Puget Sound scored a run in the top of the first for an early lead. Amy Schmeckpepper reached base with one out when her fly ball was dropped in the outfield. With two outs, Chrissy Atterson and Huber hit back-to-back singles to drive in Schmeckpepper.

The Bearcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead. Barry hit a leadoff single. She stole second and went to third on a groundout before scoring on Winslow's two-run homer to right field.

WU tacked on three runs in the third inning by taking advantage of one hit and one error with two outs. Snyder was hit by a pitch and Krewer singled, laving runners at first and second. Courtney Galli (So., 3B/2B, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) sent a long fly ball to left center. Van Hess, already playing in left center, got to the ball, but dropped it. Snyder scored on the play.

A wild pitch brought home Krewer and advanced Galli to third. Nichole Robertson (Sr., RF, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS/Cosumnes River Coll.) walked. With Drabin batting, Robertson got in a run-down between first and second. Galli scored before Robertson was tagged out.

Puget Sound scored one run in the top of the fourth inning on a homer by Huber. Willamette countered with one run in the bottom of the stanza, as Drabin singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Von Trapp.

Grause doubled for UPS with two outs in the fifth, but Atterson grounded out to the end the threat. WU scored four runs in its next at bat to take an eight-run lead and put the run rule in to effect. The runs were scored by Romero, pinch-runners Carolyn Cava (Sr., OF, Salinas, CA/Robert L. Stevenson School) and Jenna King (Fr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Camarillo HS), and Robertson.

Hope Kloczko (Jr., C, Cameron Park, CA/Oak Ridge HS) provided an RBI single, while Barry drove in the final run on a fielder's choice to shallow left field. The Loggers recorded the second out of the inning at third base on the play, but not until Robertson crossed the plate.

Drabin went 2 for 3 in both games to finish the day 4 for 6 at the plate. She hit a double in each game. Romero was 2 for 3 in the second game and went 3 for 5 overall. Watilo improved to 9-3 with the win in the first game, while Glantz moved to 4-5 by winning the second game.

Willamette is set to host Concordia University (Ore.) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 27. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT) at the WU Softball Field.