Collar and Davis Lead Bearcat Offense in Doubleheader Loss to Linfield

McMinnville, Ore. - Willamette Softball traveled to Linfield for the final doubleheader of the season and dropped both games, losing to the Wildcats by scores of 18-2 and 10-2.  Faith Collar led the Bearcats with three hits on the day, followed by Maya Figer and Mia Rogers with two each.  Kenna Davis batted in two runs with a triple in game two.

Linfield jumped out to an early lead in game one as the Wildcats put together seven hits and scored nine runs to lead 9-0 after one inning of play.  They added two runs in the third on a home run to pull ahead 11-0 after three.

The Bearcats responded in the top of the fourth when Emma Elliott, Faith Collar, and Mia Rogers each singled to load the bases with one out.  Jenna Hopkins reached base on an error that allowed Elliott and Collar to score the first runs for Willamette, making the score 11-2.

Linfield added another seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, and after the Bearcats went down in order in the top of the fifth, the game ended with the score 18-2 in Linfield's favor.

Elliott, Collar, and Rogers each had one hit to lead Willamette, with Elliott and Collar scoring the Bearcat runs.  Hopkins provided the lone RBI.  

The Wildcats started quickly in game two as well, scoring five runs in the first inning.  The Bearcats threatened in the top of the second when Maya Filger reached third base with only one out, but Willamette was unable to bring home the run.

Linfield added three runs in the bottom of the third inning on another home run to take a 8-0 lead.  Willamette responded in the top of the fourth, putting two runners on base with one out.  Kenna Davis came to the plate for her first at-bat of the season and responded with a triple to right field to score Filger and Mia Rogers.  The Bearcats loaded the bases on a hit batter and a walk but couldn't bring any more runs home in the fourth.

Faith Collar and Filger singled in the fifth and advanced to second and third with one out, but the Wildcats were able to get Jenna Hopkins and Rogers to ground out to end the inning.  Linfield was able to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth and take the game by a final score of 10-2.  

Filger and Collar each had two hits to lead the Bearcats, with Davis leading the team with two runs batted in.  

The Bearcats finished their season with an overall record of 20-18 and a conference record of 12-16, good for a fifth-place finish.  This was the first time Willamette reached the 20-win plateau since the 2012 season when the team finished 21-15.