Bearcats Smack Five Home Runs to Sweep Lewis & Clark

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

PORTLAND, ORE -- Hayley Glantz (So., P,Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS)pitched a two-hit shutout in game one, and Kelli Snyder (Sr., C,Longview, WA/Kelso HS)hit a pair of home runs in the second contest as Willamette University swept a doubleheader from Northwest Conference opponent Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, March 17 at the Huston Sports Complex.

The two victories gave the Bearcats seven wins in their last nine contests, as Willamette improved to 10-12 overall, 6-6 in the NWC. The Pioneers dropped to 10-13 overall, 5-11 in NWC play.

In game one, the Bearcats took control early, scoring five runs in the top of the first two innings. In the first frame, a two-out rally propelled Willamette to a 2-0 lead.

First, Snyder was hit by a pitch from Pioneers starter Jill Pinder. Erin Norris (So., INF,Salem, OR/South Salem HS)then doubled Snyder home, advancing to third on an error. Heather Winslow (So., OF,Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS)drove a single up back up the middle, scoring Norris.

WU added to its lead in the top of the second. With one out, Allison Martin (Jr., UTL, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) became the second Bearcat hit by a Pinder pitch, scoring on an RBI single from Jenna King (So., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS).

In the next at bat, Willamette's Ashley Pender (Fr., INF,Reno, NV/North Valleys HS)blasted a home run over the center field fence, giving the Bearcats a 5-0 advantage.

With Glantz keeping L&C's bats firmly in check allowing just two singles and no walks over five innings Willamette scored three more runs in the top of the fourth.

King drew a one-out walk, stealing second before Pender was hit by another errant pitch. Snyder reached on a single and a two-base error, advancing all the way to third while King and Pender scored. Norris drove in the Bearcats' final run with an RBI groundout.

With WU leading 8-0 at the end of five innings, the game ended on the NCAA's run rule.

In the second game of the twinbill, Willamette traded runs with L&C early, before finally breaking open a 6-1 lead on the back of some true power hitting.

A leadoff homer from Winslow got the Bearcats' offense started in the top of the second. L&C tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but Willamette regained the lead in the top of the fourth on another leadoff homer, this time from Snyder.

Willamette poured on four more runs with a two-out rally in the fifth. McKenzie Wasley (Fr., INF, Reno, NV/Galena HS) reached on an error and advanced to third on a double by King. Pender and Snyder then belted back-to-back homers, pushing WU's lead to five.

The Pioneers rallied in the bottom of the inning, however, plating two runs to chase Willamette starter Victoria Bradshaw (Fr., P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS). Glantz stepped into the circle in relief, getting the final two outs of the inning.

L&C tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Hannah Dal Pra sent a three-run shot over the fence in left-center.But in a game filled with power, the Bearcats won with some old-fashioned small ball.

With runners on first and second and one down in the top of the seventh, Courtney Galli (Jr., 1B, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) singled home Pender to give Willamette a 7-6 advantage. Glantz worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning to earn her second win of the day.

The red-hot Bearcats will have this week off from competition, returning to action on Friday, March 29 with a doubleheader against defending NCAA Division III national champion Pacific Lutheran University. First pitch of the game one is set for 12 p.m. (PDT) at the Willamette Softball Field.