Occidental Holds Off Bearcats 6-4 Despite Three Hits by DeLuca

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Marykate DeLuca (Jr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) went 3 for 4 at the plate and Willamette University outhit Occidental College 12-10, but the Tigers defeated the Bearcats 6-4 in a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 23. DeLuca's three hits led all players on both teams. Twp Bearcats and four Tigers each earned two hits during the game.

The Bearcats had the tying runs at second and third when the game ended in the top of the seventh. Occidental improved to 7-15 overall, while the Bearcats dropped to 7-13.

Willamette grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) hit a double to center field to open the game. Mia Lund (So., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) followed with a triple to bring Majors across the plate. DeLuca batted next and sent a single into center field, allowing Lund to score. With two outs, Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) walked, but a ground out ended the frame.

The Tigers plated five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second. After Evelyn Lorch and Philycia Pedrosa hit back-to-back singles, Kelsey McKenna belted an RBI double to left center. Key hits later in the inning were an RBI single by Isabella Harding, an RBI single by Drew Samson, and an RBI single by Audrey Krishnadashan. One run scored on a wild pitch.

Occidental maintained a 5-2 advantage until Willamette scored one run in the top of the fifth. DeLuca singled to right enter with one out. Sophia Lucio (So., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) pinch-ran for DeLuca and advanced to third on a single by Cassie Cosler (Sr., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS). Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) pinch-ran for Cosler and stole second base. Lucio was thrown out at home when Gianna Marchese (Sr., 3B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) hit into a fielder's choice at shortstop. Benny scored on an infield single by Fleckenstein.

In the bottom of the fifth, Lorch hit a single to right field with one out. The Tigers recorded three more singles in a row to eventually plush Lorch around the bases, increasing Occidental's lead to 6-3.

Willamette scored one run in the top of the seventh. Lund singled to center and DeLuca hit a single to left to start the inning. Cosler was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marchese fouled out to right field, but all three base runners advanced on the play, as Lund scored. With Cosler at second and DeLuca at third, Occidental pitcher Delaney Russell registered a strikeout and forced a ground out to end the game.

DeLuca was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Lund finished 2 of 4 with a triple, two runs, and an RBI. Majors was 2 of 4 with a double and one run scored. For Occidental, Lorch went 2 of 4 and scored twice. McKenna was 2 of 3 with a double, one RBI, and one run scored. Also earning two hits for the Tigers were Pedrosa and Harding.

Russell improved to 4-7 for OC with the complete-game win. She struck out four batters and allowed one walk. WU starter Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) went 1 1/3 innings and fell to 4-3. Jordyn Johnson (So., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) pitched 4 2/3 innings for the Bearcats and gave up one run while striking out four batters and walking two batters.

Willamette will take on the University of Redlands (Calif.) in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 24. First pitch in Redlands, California, is slated for 12 p.m. (PDT).