Bearcats Split Doubleheader with Bushnell, Davis K’s 12 in Opener

Salem, Ore. - Willamette softball split a doubleheader on Saturday against Bushnell University, winning the first game 2-1 before dropping the second 7-4.  It was the opening series for the Bearcats who now stand at 1-1 on the season.

The Bearcats took game one thanks to outstanding pitching from Kenna Davis and some timely hitting in the bottom of the 6th inning.  Davis threw a complete game, allowing only three hits and striking out 12 Beacons.  The winning run for Willamette scored on a two-out double by Maggie Fleischmann in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Davis breezed through the opening three innings, shutting Bushnell down in order and striking out five.  After the Bearcats scored in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead, the Beacons got a leadoff double to start the fourth and brought that runner home on a throwing error to tie the game 1-1.

Each team put runners on fifth but were unable to score until Willamette broke through in the bottom of the sixth.  Emma Elliott led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Desirae Hatfield.  After a groundout, Fleischman pounded another double to left center to score Elliott and give the Bearcats the lead.

A walk and two singles loaded the bases for the Beacons with one out in the top of the 7th inning before Davis struck out consecutive pinch hitters to end the game.

In game two, the Bearcats outhit the Beacons 12 to 9 and fought back in the late innings, but early runs from Bushnell were too much to overcome in the 7-4 defeat.  Maya Filger had three of Willamette's hits for the contest, while Emma Elliott, Desirae Hatfield, and Alexandra Richards added two hits each.

After managing only three hits in game one, Bushnell struck early in game two, with hits by three of its first four batters and three runs in the opening inning. After Elliott singled home Filger in the bottom of the first, the Beacons struck again in the top of the second, scoring another three runs to take a 6-1 lead.

Willamette continued to battle and loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth but could only push across one run on another Elliott single and RBI.  The Bearcats scored single runs again in the sixth and the seventh, but it wasn't enough as the Beacons took game two.

The Bearcats return to action next weekend when they are scheduled to host Warner Pacific for two games on Sunday, February 16th.  First pitch in game one is scheduled for Noon.