Bearcats Earn Split at Puget Sound with 8-2 Win in Second Game

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University pounded out 14 hits and scored in six of seven innings in the second game, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 8-2, to split a Northwest Conference doubleheader with the Loggers on Sunday, March 30.

In the first game, the teams were tied 3-3 after three innings. It remained that way until Willamette scored three runs in the top of the seventh. The Loggers earned three hits in the bottom of the inning and took advantage of three errors by the Bearcats to rally for a 7-6 win.

Willamette's record went to 13-12 overall, 9-6 in the NWC. Puget Sound moved to 2-20 on the season, including 1-15 in the NWC.

Ashley Pender (So., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valley HS) led Willamette's offense. She was 2 for 4 with a run and three RBIs in the first game, before going 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second game. She pounded out two doubles in the opener and stole a base in the second game.

Hayley Glantz (Jr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS), who pitched the final 4 2/3 innings of the afternoon, won the second game and upped her record to 2-3. The first batter she faced received a walk with the bases loaded to tie the game 2-2. Glantz allowed no runs, three hits and two walks the rest of the way, while striking out four batters.

Puget Sound took a 1-0 lead in the first game, when Taylor Jones started the bottom of the first inning with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Lisa Colombo.

Willamette tallied the next three runs for a 3-1 lead. Amanda Absher (Jr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) doubled in the second and scored when Erin Norris (Jr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) also doubled.

In the third, Heather Winslow (Jr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) and Jenna King (Jr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) scored when Pender smacked a double to left center. The Loggers tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out, two-run single by Megan Campbell.

WU surged into a 6-3 lead with a trio of runs in the seventh. Winslow walked and later scored on a double by Pender. Absher also doubled, allowing Pender to score. Absher recorded the third run on a sacrifice fly by Kayla Rieger (Jr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS).

In the bottom of the seventh. Chelsea Lindroth reached first on a throwing error. After a groundout moved her to second, a fielding error put runners at first and third. Lindroth and another runner scored on back-to back singles, before WU committed a throwing error on a fielder's choice.

The miscues helped UPS score four unearned runs. Campbell drove in Kristi Nagamine with the tying run on a groundout. Colombo scored the winning run on a single by Marissa Jeffers.

Colombo was 3 for 4 for the Loggers with two runs and two RBIs, while Campbell drove in three runs. Rieger was 2 for 3 for Willamette. Pender, Absher and Norris each went 2 for 4.

As in the first game, the second game was tied after three innings. This time, UPS plated a pair of runs in the third inning to even the score at 2-2.

With Glantz keeping the Loggers off the scoreboard, the Bearcats took the lead and pulled away. Three runs in the fourth, including two on a single by pinch-hitter Alex Shields (Fr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS), gave Willamette a 5-2 advantage. WU tacked on a run in each of the final three innings.

Pender's three hits led the way in the second game. Winslow went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and also recorded her 20th stolen base of the season. Norris and Rieger each went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Myranda Ramirez (Fr., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) was 2 for 2 with two runs scored, while a total of seven Bearcats each scored once.

For Puget Sound, Jeffers finished 2 for 3. Colombo was 1 for 3 with an RBI and ended the day 4 for 8 overall.

Willamette will remain in the Tacoma area to take on Pacific Lutheran University on Monday, March 31. The doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 29, is slated to begin at 2 p.m. (PDT) in Parkland, Wash..