Williams is WU's Winningest Coach after Bearcats Down Loggers, 3-1 and 5-3

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University softball Head Coach Damian Williams set the school record for coaching wins with one team when the Bearcats won the first game of a doubleheader against University of Puget Sound, 3-1, on Saturday, April 13, giving him 358 career wins. Willamette also won the second game, 5-3, advancing Williams to 359 victories during his 20 seasons with the Bearcats (1999-14, 2016-19).

The previous record of 357 wins was set by Gordie James during 22 seasons as the head coach of the Willamette men's basketball team from 1987-88 through 2008-09. 

On Saturday, the Bearcats received a great pitching effort from Jocelyn Glasgo (Jr., P, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) in the first game, followed by solid pitching from Bailey Hillmick (So., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) and Morgan Penn (Jr., P/1B, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) in the second game. The Bearcats benefited from timely hitting in both games. The series will conclude with two games at WU Softball Field on Sunday, April 14, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

"I am so happy for the players," Williams said. "They have fought so hard all year and it was good to see it finally pay off."

Glasgo Throws Two-Hitter with Six Strikeouts in First Game

In the opener, Glasgo pitched a complete-game, two-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks. She limited the Loggers to one run, an unearned tally in the seventh inning. The only hits by Puget Sound were a two-out single by Maddie Colombo in the first inning and an RBI single by Mckenna Johnson with two outs in the seventh. Willamette won 3-1.

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first without recording a hit. Emily Bishop (Sr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) was hit by a pitch to start the frame. She stole second base, and later went to third on a wild pitch. Glasgo walked to put runners at the corners. When Glasgo stole second base, Puget Sound catcher Abbi Wong threw wildly toward second, allowing Bishop to score.

Glasgo worked out of a first-and-third threat with two outs in the top of the third inning when she forced Colombo to ground out. Two walks in the top of the fourth inning led to runners at second and third with one out, but Glasgo struk out Mackensie Pearlstein and caused Kaitlyn Webster to ground out.

As a result, the Bearcats maintained their 1-0 advantage until the fifth, when they increased their lead to 2-0. Bishop singled to open the stanza. One out later, Payten Healy (Fr., SS, Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) smacked a double near the fence in right center to drive home Bishop. In the sixth inning for the Bearcats, Vanessa Almaraz (Jr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) hit a leadoff single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Kelsey Wong (Fr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School).

Abby Brondos reached first on an error at shortstop to begin the top of the seventh. Two strikeouts later, Brondos advanced to second on a throwing error form behind home plate. Johnson singled to drive in Brondos. Glasgo forced Jessica Shimoda to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Willamette recorded five hits. Earning one hit apiece were Bishop, Healy, Hillmick, Almaraz and Meghan Hook (Fr., C, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS). Puget Sound pitcher Kelly Sullivan took the loss after allowing five hits and three runs (two earned). Sullivan achieved 10 strikeouts and walked two batters.

Healy Belts a Home Run and a Double in Second Game

Healy had an outstanding second game for the Bearcats, as she smacked a two-run homer in the first inning and blasted a double in the fifth. During the twinbill, she went 3 of 6 with the homer, two doubles, one run and three RBIs. Her efforts helped Willamette sweep the doubleheader with a 5-3 win.

Bishop singled to start Willamette's half of the first inning. Glasgo walked. Bishop was thrown out at third on an attempted double-steal. Healy batted next and sent the fourth pitch over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season.

The Bearcats tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the third inning. Glasgo walked with one out and then stole second. She went to third on a ground out, and scored when Hillmick reached first and second on an fielding error by the first baseman. Hillmick crossed the plate for a 4-0 lead on an RBI single up the middle by Wong.

Puget Sound answered with two runs in the top of the fourth. Brondos was hit by a pitch and Webster followed with a bunt single. A throwing error on the play left runners at second and third. Noelle Kerr drove in Brondos with a ground out to second. Webster scored at the end of the play, when a throw from first was wide at third.

In the sixth, Willamette added its fifth run. Cassie Cosler (Fr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) walked and gave way to pinch-runner Jewel Fleckenstein (Fr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School), who stole second. A single by Hook advanced the runner, and Breianna Mcleod (So., OF, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) sent Fleckenstein home with a ground ball. Mcleod reached first and Hook went to third when the ball was misplayed, but the Bearcats didn't score again.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Sullivan belted a double to left and Abbi Wong hit an RBI single. Penn (Jr., P/1B, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) of Willamette forced a flyout and a pop-up to end the game. Penn went to the circle with one out in the fourth inning, threw 3 2/3 innings to record the win.

Puget Sound outhit the Bearcats 8-7, but left eight runners on base, including three at third. Abbi Wong was 3 of 4 with a double and an RBI for the Loggers. In addition to Healy's 2-for-3 performance, the Bearcats received one hit each from Bishop, Kelsey Wong, Cosler, Hook and Mcleod.

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Jocelyn Glasgo tossed a complete-game, two-hitter
in the opener, while striking out six batters. Both of
Puget Sound's hits were singles.