Boxers Edge Willamette in Pair of One-Run Games, 10-9 and 5-4

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University held a lead in each game, but Pacific University rallied to defeat the Bearcats 10-9 and 5-4, in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at the WU Softball Field on Saturday, Feb. 24. After Pacific took the lead, the Bearcats also rallied, but fell one run short on both occasions.

The Bearcats and the Boxers opened NWC action with the doubleheader. Pacific improved to 4-0 on the season, 2-0 in the NWC, while the Bearcats dropped to 0-5 overall, 0-2 in the NWC. The teams are scheduled to complete the four-game series with another doubleheader at the WU Softball Field on Sunday, Feb. 25. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PST).

Jocelyn Glasgo (So., RHP/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) went 3 for 3 in the first game and finished the day 4 of 6 with three runs, and two walks. In the opener, she hit a triple, scored twice and drove in four runs.

Glasgo pitched all seven innings of the second game and took the loss. She allowed seven hits and five runs, but only three runs were earned. She registered four strikeouts and allowed no walks, while throwing 97 pitches with 72 strikes.

Hailey Miller of Pacific was 4 of 8 overall after going 2 for 4 with two RBIs in each game. Also for the Boxers, Alyssa Burns threw four hitless and scoreless innings at the end of the second game to earn the win. She moved to 1-0 on the season. Miller struck out eight batters and gave up three walks.

Boxers Win First Game, 10-9, after Trailing 6-1

In the first game, Willamette surged out to a 6-1 lead with one run in the first inning and five runs in the second. Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) singled up the middle to start the first stanza. She went to second when Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS) reached base on catcher's interference. Bishop scored on a single by Glasgo.

Pacific tallied one run in the top of the second. With two outs and runners at first and second in the bottom of the inning, Glasgo hit an RBI single to right. Bishop scored on the play, while Hillmick moved to third. Glasgo went to second on the throw home.

After Vanessa Almaraz (So., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) walked to load the bases, Maya Shipway (So., 1B, Bothell, WA/The Bear Creek School) sent a two-run single through the right side. Kea Gier (Fr., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) followed with an RBI single to center. Shipway eventually scored on a bases-loaded walk issued to Danielle Koontz (Fr., 2B, Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS).

The Boxers pulled within 6-5 by scoring four times in the third inning. Two runs scored on a single by Haley Kodama. The other two runs reached the plate on wild pitches.

Pacific gained the lead in the top of the fourth. Nicole Martinez reached first to open the inning when her bunt resulted in a throwing error by relief pitcher Sofia Magnani (So., RHP, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS). One out later, Martinez stole second. Katelyn Macaitis-Smith went to first and second on a fielding error at first base, with Martinez advancing to third.  Miller drove in both runners with a single to left, giving the Boxers a 7-6 advantage.

Three runs by the Boxers in the sixth inning increased their lead to 10-6. Willamette rallied in the bottom of the seventh, but finished one run short of tying the game. With one out and Kaitlin Manker (Fr., INF, Vancouver, WAUnion HS) at first, Hillmick singled to center. Glasgo belted a triple to left field to push Manker and Hillmick across the plate. Almaraz walked. On a double-steal, Glasgo scored and Almaraz went to second, as WU pulled within 10-9. Shipway batted next and walked, but a fly out and a strikeout ended the threat.

Glasgo's three hits led the Bearcats in the opener. Bishop went 2 of 5 with two runs. Miller was the only Pacific player with two hits, but Trisha Snydar smacked a two-run homer in the sixth.

Bearcats Fall just short in Second Game, 5-4

Willamette trailed 1-0 after Pacific scored in the first inning of the second game, but the Bearcats plated four runs in the third. Glasgo hit an RBI single down the right field line. Almaraz drove in a run with an infield single toward third. Shipway brought in the third run with a double to left field. Almaraz scored the fourth run on a ground out by Magnani.

Burns entered the game in the bottom of the fourth and held the Bearcats without a hit the rest of the game. The Boxers fought back with two runs in the fifth inning to get within 4-3. With one out in the top of the seventh, Martinez and Jill Uyeda hit back-to-back singles. A ground out advanced the runners. Martinez scored on a single to shortstop by Miller, and Uyeda went home on the same play following a throwing error.

The Bearcats had a runner in scoring position in Willamette's final at bat, after Koontz walked to open the stanza and Alamaraz was hit by a pitch one out later. Shipway popped up and Magnani lined out to shortstop to end the game.

Miller was one of three Boxers with two hits during the game. Martinez and Uyeda each finished 2 of 4 with two runs scored.