TACOMA, Wash. — Willamette (9-22, 6-13) fell to Pacific Lutheran (24-7, 16-3) in two games on Sunday. 

Game #1 — Pacific Lutheran 9, Willamette 1

Willamette managed to score in the third inning, but Pacific Lutheran's seven-run fifth inning secured its victory. Willamette recorded four hits in the game, while Pacific Lutheran tallied nine, including a home run.

Willamette tied the game in the third inning when Maris Pinheiro singled and later scored on an RBI single by Emma Elliott. Despite the promising start, the team struggled to generate further offense, managing only one hit after the third inning. Mckenzee Petersen had a notable early single, but subsequent innings saw the Bearcats leaving runners on base, unable to convert opportunities into runs.

In the fourth inning, Jenna Hopkins was hit by a pitch, and Reese Wiseman singled, putting pressure on Pacific Lutheran. However, the Bearcats couldn't deliver the timely hit needed to change the game's trajectory.

Pacific Lutheran seized the game with a decisive seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by Paola Garcia's grand slam that extended its lead significantly. The sequence began with Kamalani Doctor's single, followed by stolen bases that set up Zoe Smithson's two-RBI double. A fielding error and a pivotal home run by Garcia allowed Pacific Lutheran to capitalize on the momentum shift.

Petersen pitched a complete game, recording two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings while allowing nine runs on nine hits. Elliott contributed offensively with a hit and an RBI, despite striking out once. Pinheiro added one hit and scored a run, providing a spark at the top of the lineup.

Game #2 — Pacific Lutheran 11, Willamette 3

Willamette scored early with a run in the first inning and added single runs in the fourth and fifth, but Pacific Lutheran's four-run first inning and subsequent scoring proved decisive. The Bearcats recorded 10 hits, including a double, but could not overcome Pacific Lutheran's 13 hits, which featured two home runs and a triple.

Pacific Lutheran seized control in the bottom of the first, leveraging a pair of pivotal extra-base hits to establish a commanding lead. An RBI double from Alexa Saladin plated two, followed by Zoe Smithson's two-run homer, which extended the lead to 4–1. This early surge set the tone, as Pacific Lutheran maintained its momentum throughout the game.

Willamette's efforts to shift the game's momentum centered around productive at-bats and strategic base running. In the first inning, Pinheiro and Petersen each singled, with Elliott delivering an RBI single to put the Bearcats on the board. Desirae Hatfield doubled in the third, advancing a runner to third, but subsequent batters were unable to capitalize. Despite a late push in the fifth with Maggie Fleischmann's RBI single, the Bearcats struggled to close the gap.

The fourth inning presented a promising opportunity for Willamette, as Fleischmann and Jordan Cresswell reached base, setting the stage for Wiseman's RBI single. However, the scoring threat diminished with two runners left on base, underscoring the challenges faced in maintaining offensive momentum against Pacific Lutheran's defense.

Fleischmann recorded two hits and drove in one run, contributing significantly to the offensive output. Wiseman also tallied two hits and added an RBI, enhancing the team's scoring opportunities. Elliott finished with one hit and one RBI, further supporting the team's efforts at the plate. Petersen collected two hits, bolstering the team's performance on offense.

Maddy Tuning pitched 2 innings for Willamette, allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits, including a home run, and took the loss. Maya Filger contributed 1 inning in relief, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits. Lizzie Brasher also pitched 1 inning, surrendering 5 earned runs on 5 hits with 2 walks.

The Bearcats compete next against Lewis & Clark College at the Willamette Softball Field on April 18th, beginning at 12pm.