2011-12 Softball News

Season
Willamette Plans to Build Softball Training Facility for Bearcats
Willamette Plans to Build Softball Training Facility for Bearcats

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is underway with a campaign to raise funds for an indoor softball training facility. Long-time Bearcat softball supporters the Wallace family have generously provided a leadership gift of just under $25,000 for the project.

Two Bearcats Earn All-West Region Honors in Softball
Two Bearcats Earn All-West Region Honors in Softball

SALEM, ORE. -- Two Willamette University softball players have been selected All-West Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The All-West Region selections were divided into three teams with a total of 45 athletes chosen from throughout the region. 

Three Bearcats are Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference in Softball
Three Bearcats are Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference in Softball

SALEM, ORE. -- Three Willamette University softball players have been selected First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2012 season, and five Bearcats have been chosen Second Team All-NWC, in voting by the NWC head coaches. Overall, 16 players from the NWC's eight teams were named to the First Team, with 16 on the Second Team and nine receiving Honorable Mention.

Willamette Softball Team Remains #8 in West Region
Willamette Softball Team Remains #8 in West Region

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team retained its #8 ranking in the West Region of NCAA Division III this week as determined by the Regional Advisory Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and released on Thursday, April 26. The Bearcats are 21-15 on the season, including 19-9 in the Northwest Conference.

Linfield Rallies Past Bearcats in NWC Softball Tournament, 4-2
Linfield Rallies Past Bearcats in NWC Softball Tournament, 4-2

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Linfield College rallied to defeat Willamette University, 4-2, in an elimination game at the 2012 Northwest Conference Softball Tournament on Sunday, April 22. Willamette scored two runs in the first inning and led 2-1 after two stanzas, but Linfield moved in front on a 3-run homer by Katy Brosig in the bottom of the sixth. The Wildcats took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning.

Bearcats Fall to Lutes, Defeat Bruins, at NWC Tournament
Bearcats Fall to Lutes, Defeat Bruins, at NWC Tournament

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette opened the 2012 Northwest Conference Softball Tournament with a 3-1 loss to Pacific Lutheran University, ranked #5 in NCAA Division III, but rebounded with a 5-1 win over George Fox University in an elimination game in the double-elimination tournament.

Bearcats are Ranked #8 in West Region of NCAA Division III
Bearcats are Ranked #8 in West Region of NCAA Division III

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team is #8 in the West Region this week in rankings released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bearcats are 20-13 on the season, including 19-9 in the Northwest Conference.

Willamette Softball Team to Compete at NWC Tournament
Willamette Softball Team to Compete at NWC Tournament

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team, 20-13 overall and 19-9 in the Northwest Conference, has qualified for the NWC Tournament and will compete at the four-team, double-elimination event this weekend on the Linfield College campus in McMinnville, Ore. Willamette is the #3 seed and will take on the #2 seed, Pacific Lutheran University, in the first round on Saturday, April 21.

Bearcats Battle #1 Linfield, but Wildcats win 5-3 and 5-2
Bearcats Battle #1 Linfield, but Wildcats win 5-3 and 5-2

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University gave #1-ranked Linfield College two solid battles in Northwest Conference play on Sunday, April 15 at the WU Softball Field, but the Wildcats swept the doubleheader, winning 5-3 and 5-2.

Watilo Throws Two-Hitter, as Bearcats Defeat #1 Linfield, 2-0, to Start Doubleheader
Watilo Throws Two-Hitter, as Bearcats Defeat #1 Linfield, 2-0, to Start Doubleheader

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University pitcher Alex Watilo (Sr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) pitched a complete-game 2-hitter against #1-ranked Linfield College to lead the Bearcats to a 2-0 victory over the Wildcats in the first game of the doubleheader. Watilo upped her record to 13-4 on the season. The Bearcats outhit Linfield, 8-2, during the game. WU scored both runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Bearcat Softball Team Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research
Bearcat Softball Team Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Research

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball team raised funds for breast cancer research when the Bearcats took on Whitworth University on Saturday, April 7. The Strike Out Cancer fundraiser brought in $420 from Willamette and Whitworth fans.

Willamette Holds Off Loggers, 4-3, as Bearcats Play Seventh Game in Six Days
Willamette Holds Off Loggers, 4-3, as Bearcats Play Seventh Game in Six Days

TACOMA, WASH. -- Despite playing their seventh game in six days, the Willamette University Bearcats found a way to defeat the University of Puget Sound, 4-3, in a Northwest Conference game on Wednesday, April 11 at Logger Field. With the win, Willamette advanced its record to 19-10 overall, 18-6 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 3-27 overall, 3-21 in the NWC.

Pacific Lutheran Wins 1-0 in 11 Innings to Start Doubleheader Sweep
Pacific Lutheran Wins 1-0 in 11 Innings to Start Doubleheader Sweep

TACOMA, WASH. -- Alex Watilo (Sr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) of Willamette University and Stacey Hagensen from Pacific Lutheran University battled in a lengthy pitchers' dual until the Lutes pushed across the game's only run in the 11th inning to defeat the Bearcats, 1-0, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 10. The Lutes won the second game, 8-0, on the run rule in six innings.

Bearcats Use Timely Hitting, Dominant Pitching to Down Pirates 3-2 and 11-3
Bearcats Use Timely Hitting, Dominant Pitching to Down Pirates 3-2 and 11-3

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University utilized timely hitting and received complete-game efforts from each of its starting pitchers en route to a doubleheader sweep against Whitworth University, 3-2 and 11-3, on Saturday, April 7 at the WU Softball Field.

Bearcats Sweep Doubleheader from Whitworth, 3-1 and 4-1
Bearcats Sweep Doubleheader from Whitworth, 3-1 and 4-1

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University took an early lead in both games and received a four-hitter form each starting pitcher, as the Bearcats opened a four-game series with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Whitworth University, 3-1 and 4-1, on Friday, April 6 at the WU Softball Field.

Softball Games in Tacoma are Rescheduled
Softball Games in Tacoma are Rescheduled

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University softball games that were rained out this past weekend in Tacoma, Wash., have been rescheduled. The Bearcats will play a doubleheader at Pacific Lutheran University on Tuesday, April 10, with the first game getting underway at 2 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will play one game at the University of Puget Sound on Wednesday, April 11, starting at 3:30 p.m.