Boxers Down Bearcats, 2-0 and 9-4, in NWC Softball

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific University prevailed over Willamette University in a pitcher's duel, 2-0, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 7 at the WU Softball Field. The Boxers added a 9-4 win against the Bearcats in the second game to improve to 11-5 on the season, 4-2 in the NWC.

Willamette ended the day at 1-11 overall and 1-5 in the NWC. The Bearcats were playing their first home games of the season.

Shortstop Ashley Mitchell belted a solo home run to left field to start the second inning in the first game. The Boxers tacked on another run later in the inning on a single up the middle by Margaret Bachmeier that drove in Kylee Oshiro, who was hit by a pitch after Mitchell's homer. With one out, Oshiro stole second base and then stole third base.

The 2-0 lead was all Pacific starting pitcher Marissa Reichard needed to record the win. She shut out the Bearcats, while allowing just four hits -- all singles. Reichard struck out six batters and gave up three walks.

WU starter Jade Smith also pitched well, limiting the Boxers to eight hits with seven singles. Smith matched Reichard with six strikeouts and allowed just one walk.

The Bearcats threatened to score in the fourth inning after Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) walked and Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) hit a single with no outs.

It looked like the runners might advance when Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) smacked a line drive to right field, but it was caught by Bachmeier. Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) then lined into a double play, as Kaitlyn Shikada caught the ball at third and doubled off Pender at second.

Reichard survived a walk to Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) in the bottom of the sixth.

Winslow stole second before advancing to third on a groundout by Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS). Pender flied out to left field, but Winslow had to hold at third. Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) walked, but Reichard ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Bearcats recorded two hits in the seventh inning.

Asaro placed a short infield single in front of the plate to start the inning. Carrie Fox (Fr., OF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) pinch-ran and Danielle Saunders (Fr., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) singled to left field, sending Fox to third.

Fox was thrown out in a run-down between third and home after Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) hit a fielder's choice toward third. Ramirez went to third and Norris reached second on the play. Reichard struck out Winslow to end the game.

In the second game, Pacific scored one run in the first inning and Willamette tied the game with a run in the second.

Rachel Roberts singled to start the game for the Boxes and eventually scored on a single by Mitchell. For WU in the second inning, Norris reached base on a throwing error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Norris stayed at second on an infield single by Asaro.

Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) ran for Norris and took third on a single by Ramirez, as the Bearcats loaded the bases. Lathrop stole home. A groundout ended the inning.

Pacific surged into a 5-1 lead with four runs in the top of the third. The first three runs scored on a home run to left field by Mitchell with one out. Oshiro singled, stole second one out later, and scored the fourth run on a double by Shikada.

The Boxers tacked on two runs in the fourth for a six-run advantage. Both runs scored on a homer by Haley Kodama.

Willamette reduced the margin to 7-4 with a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth on two runs, two walks and one hit batter. All thee runs scored with two outs. Saunders brought in Fox with one run on a single to left center. Ramirez drove in the other two runs -- scored by Norris and Rieger -- with an infield single toward first.

Kiera Melton of Pacific completed the scoring with a two-run homer to left field in the top of the seventh.

The Boxers finished the game with 15 hits, while Willamette recorded seven hits. Mitchell was 4 for 4 with a double, a home run, four RBIs and a run scored. She was 6 for 7 during the doubleheader. For Willamette, Ramirez ended the day 4 for 6 at the plate, including 3 for 3 with two RBIs in the second game. Asaro was 2 for 4 overall, with one hit in each game.

Willamette will travel to Newberg, Ore., on Sunday, March 8 to take on George Fox University in an NWC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).