Sagehens Sweep Bearcats, 8-5 in Eight Innings and 11-9

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

CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) swept Willamette University in a softball doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 20. The Sagehens won first game 8-5 in eight innings and took the second game 11-9 after five innings due to darkness. Pomona-Pitzer upped its record to 5-6, while Willamette fell to 0-4 on the season.

Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer with one out in the top of the seventh inning to force the extra frame in the opener. Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS), who pinch-ran after Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) walked to start the inning, also scored on the play.

The Bearcats took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, butNatalie Ireland of Pomona-Pitzer belted a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the inning.

In WU's half of the eighth, Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) reached first base on an error by shortstop Aryana Yee. Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) moved King to second with a bunt toward third base.

Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) walked and Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) was hit by a pitch. Ramirez drove in King with a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the bottom of the inning, Emily Rockhill singled and gave way to pinch-runner Quinn Sheehy. Following a short groundout near the plate, Sam Carlson singled and Paige Oliver walked. Ireland hit the game-winning home run.

Carlson was 3 for 4 during the game and hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Rockhill finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Ireland was 1 for 4. Winslow led Willamette in the opener by going 2 for 3 with double and an RBI. King was 1 for 4 and scored twice for the Bearcats.

In the second game, Winslow smacked a three-run homer in Willamette's four-run fifth inning. Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) who singled to center and stole second base, and King, who reached base on an unsuccessful fielder's choice, also scored on the play.

Later in the inning, Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) added an RBI double to tie the game at 9-9.

Pomona-Pitzer scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Leah Bleichner walked and was sacrificed to second. Rockhill singled, moving Bleichner to third. Carlson drove in both runners with a double. The game was called due to darkness before the start of the sixth inning.

Bleichner went 3 for 3 in the second game for the Sagehens. She hit a double and scored three runs. Carlson was 2 for 2, including a two-run homer in the second inning. She scored three runs and registered four RBIs for Pomona-Pitzer. Meagan Tokunaga was 2 for 3 with a trio of RBIs, while Rockhill and Ireland each went 2 for 4.

Rieger provided WU with two hits in four at bats, while scoring three runs and earning one RBI. Asaro finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, while Winslow was 1 for 2 with a run and four RBIs.

Bianca Cockrell pitched all eight innings for Pomona-Pitzer in the opener and recorded the win. In the second game, Rockhill picked up the win for the Sagehens in relief by pitching final two outs of the top of the fifth inning. Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) and Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) took the losses for WU.

Willamette will complete its six-game trip to California with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PST) in Claremont, Calif.