Davis Strikes Out 5 Batters as WU Wins Opener 6-1 in Twinbill with Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) of Willamette University pitched a complete-game seven-hitter, while striking out five batters with no walks, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific University, 6-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 20 at WU Softball Field. Pacific won the second game, 13-4, as the teams split the twinbill.

Willamette and Pacific also split the four-game series. On Friday, Pacific downed the Bearcats 12-6 in nine innings before Willamette won the second game 12-7. The Bearcats finished the weekend with a 7-12 overall record, including 5-9 in the NWC. The Boxers moved to 6-14 overall, 5-7 in the NWC.

Davis improved to 4-2 on the season. She threw just 74 pitches in seven innings to get the win against the Boxers on Sunday. She allowed six singles and one double.

Marchese Belts 3-Run Homer to Lead Bearcats in First Game

The Bearcats produced four runs on two hits during the third inning of the opener. Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) walked with two outs and then stole second base. After Marykate DeLuca (Jr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) walked, Mia Lund (So., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) hit an infield single toward shortstop to drive in Fleckenstein. Gianna Marchese (Sr., 3B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) batted next and smacked a 3-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field. WU held a 4-0 lead at the start of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Willamette increased the lead by two runs on an RBI single from Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) and an RBI fielder's choice by DeLuca. The Bearcats achieved three hits during the stanza but left the bases loaded.

Pacific pushed across its only run in the top of the sixth, to cut the margin to 6-1. With one out, Sydney Rusin hit an infield single toward second. She scored on a double to left field by Rylee Patton.

The Bearcats accumulated seven hits in the game, as seven players each provided one hit. Marchese led the way with three RBI on her home run. Pacific also recorded seven hits, as Rusin went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Davis' complete-game win included two strikeouts in the first inning and two more in the second inning. She added another strikeout in the seventh. In three appearances during the series, she struck out 11 batters in 14 innings.

Fleckenstein Hits 3-Run Blast for Willamette in Second Game

The Boxers gained a split of the doubleheader by building a 9-1 lead before winning 13-4. Pacific earned 13 hits in the game, while limiting the Bearcats to seven hits.

In the top of the first inning, Pacific took a 2-0 lead. Annika McNeel opened the game with a single to shortstop, and then Samantha Petitt hit a bunt single in front of home plate. A double-steel moved the runners to second and third. McNeel scored when Rusin groundout out. Petitt crossed the plate on a ground out by Patton.

Willamette plated a run in the bottom of the first. Majors singled up the middle to start the frame. She stole second bases and went to third on a ground out by Alexandra Richards (Fy., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS). Majors scored on a single to right field by DeLuca.

Pacific tacked on two runs in the second inning for a 4-1 advantage. With one out, Nicole Leadley doubled to right center, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on a double by Michelle Winfield. After Winfield stole third, McNeel hit into an RBI ground out.

The Boxers scored four runs on three hits in the fourth inning. With one out, Carli Zanassi walked, Leadley singled, and Winfield was hit by a pitch. McNeel drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Petitt added an RBI single. McNeel scored the fourth run on a ground out by Rusin.

After Pacific added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Patton for a 9-1 margin, the Bearcats plated three runs in the bottom of the stanza on a home run by Fleckenstein. Kelsey Wong (Sr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Kyrstin Calleja (Fy., OF, Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert HS) also scored on the play. Pacific produced four runs in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring.

Rusin pitched all seven innings and improved to 2-2. She allowed seven hits and had two strikeouts. McNeel was 3 of 5 for Pacific with two runs and five RBIs. Petitt went 3 of 5 with a double and two RBIs. Leadley was 3 of 4 with a double and three runs. For Willamette, DeLuca was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Fleckenstein was 1 for 1 with a homer and three RBIs.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats will open their Spring Break trip to California with a single game at Occidental College in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 23. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PDT).