Elliott's Homer, Raymond's Walk-off Single, Send Bearcats to Split with Pirates

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Emma Elliott (So., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) hit a two-run homer to drive in the tying runs and Harley Raymond (Jr., 1B, Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS/Columbia Basin College) hit a walk-off single two batters later, as Willamette University scored three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Whitworth University, 4-3, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23. Whitworth took the first game, 4-3, despite a 2-for-3 effort from Elliott.

Willamette ended the day with a 5-11 overall record, including 1-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates moved to 5-13 on the season, 1-5 in the NWC. The Bearcats will take on Whitworth in another doubleheader on Sunday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. PDT at WU Softball Field.

Elliott's homer led to a 2-of-4 performance in the second game. For the day, she was 4 of 7 for a .571 average. Raymond, who drove in a run in the first game on a pinch-hit groundout, was 3 of 4 in the second game and 3 of 5 (.600) overall.

Bearcats Split Doubleheader with 4-3 Win in Game 2

The late-game heroics of Elliott and Raymond helped the Bearcats win the second game 4-3, as Willamette split the doubleheader. The Bearcats trailed 3-1, but Mia Rogers (So., 2B/SS/P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) opened the seventh by reaching first base on a fielding error. Elliott batted next and blasted her homer over the center field fence to tie the game.

Kendra Knapp (Sr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) followed with a double to left center. One out later, Raymond singled to left center, as Knapp crossed the plate with the winning run and the Bearcats cleared the dugout to celebrate.

The game was scoreless until the Pirates pushed across three runs in the third. Kennedy Robinson tripled to left center to start the inning. She was thrown out at third after moving toward home when Haley Montoya hit a fielder's choice to pitcher Kenna Davis (Jr., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS). Davis threw to Rogers at third, who tagged Montoya.

Katie McInnis doubled to left and Montoya went to third. Julia Dillon hit an RBI single to left that drove in Montoya. An error on the in left field on the play allowed McInnis to score as well, while Dillon advanced to second on the throw. With two outs, Jazz Johnson brought home Dillon with a single to left center.

Willamette outhit the Pirates 11-7 in Game 2. The three hits by Raymond led all players, while Elliott's two hits and two-run homer were key for the Bearcats. Rogers also went 2 of 4 for Willamette. For Whitworth, Johnson was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Davis pitched all seven innings for the Bearcats and improved to 4-4 on the season. She allowed seven hits while striking out two batters and allowing no walks. Momi Lyman, who started for the Pirates, left the circle after Knapp's double in the seventh and was credited with the loss as she fell to 2-6.

Whitworth Holds Off Bearcats 4-3 in Game 1

The Pirates scored two runs in the third inning and one run in the fourth to rally from a 1-0 deficit and take a 3-1 lead in the first game. Willamette battled back with one run in the fourth to pull within 3-2, but the Pirates added an insurance run in the sixth. The Bearcats plated one run in the seventh, but couldn't tie the Pirates.

Mia Lund (Sr., OF/UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) singled for Willamette to start the bottom of the first. Lund stole second, and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS). A groundout by Rogers sent Lund across the plate.

Neither team scored in the second inning. A strikeout started the top of the third before Montoya singled for Whitworth. McKinnis was hit by a pitch, sending Montoya to second. Later, with the bases loaded, Taylor Hofheins singled to the circle, driving home Montoya. Jazz Johnson hit a sacrifice fly that scored McKinnis, giving Whitworth a 2-1 lead.

Lizzy Bradford added an RBI single in the fourth to increase the margin to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, Elliott hit a double with one out and scored when Brianna Majors (Grad., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) reached base on a throwing error. The Pirates tacked on a run in the sixth for a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Maris Pinheiro (Fy., C/OF, Tulare, CA/Tulare Union HS) doubled for the Bearcats down the right field line. Faith Collar (Jr., UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) pinch-ran and went to third on a groundout by Maggie Fleischman (Fy., INF, Fresno, CA/Central HS). Raymond also grounded out, allowing Collar to score. Whitworth pitcher Corinne Vasiloff forced another groundout to end the game.

Vasiloff, 3-6, tossed all seven innings. She gave up five hits and had six strikeouts. Jordyn Johnson (Sr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) of Willamette pitched the first 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits. She earned three strikeouts and no walks. Elliott was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Rusconi of Whitworth was 3 of 3 with a double.