Bearcats to Battle Lewis & Clark in Northwest Conference Softball

By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University softball team will take on Lewis & Clark College in two Northwest Conference doubleheaders this weekend. The first two games will be on Saturday, April 11 and the second twinbill will be on Sunday, April 12. Both doubleheaders are set to start at 12 p.m. (PDT) and will be held at the WU Softball Field.

Coming into the weekend, the Bearcats are 11-19 overall and 8-12 in NWC play. Despite two close mid-week losses at Pacific Lutheran University, Willamette is coming off of a weekend in which the Bearcats swept doubleheaders at home against PLU and University of Puget Sound.

In those four games, the team flashed its strength on offense, pounding out eight runs every game. Contributing to the offensive outburst were Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B/OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.), Heather Winlsow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS), Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS), and Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS).

Against the Lutes, Rieger hit a grand slam along with two doubles. She recorded three runs batted in and a triple against the Loggers. Overall, she's hitting .387 (36 for 93) this season with a team-high nine doubles, three triples and 22 RBIs. Winslow also blasted her third home run of the season against PLU, and is now hitting .400 (34 for 85) with a team-high 24 runs scored. She also leads the NWC with 24 stolen bases.

Pender was 6 for 11 over the weekend and registered seven RBIs along with six runs scored. Ramirez went 8 for 13 at the plate with six RBIs, while also swiping three bases. On the season, Pender is batting .386 (34 for 88) with a team-high 23 RBIs and Ramirez is hitting an NWC-best .494 (40 for 81) with 20 RBIs.

Other hitters above the .300 mark are Jenna King(Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS), who has a .330 average (29 for 88), Amanda Absher(Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS), whose average is .319 (22 for 69), and Carrie Fox(Fr., LF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS), who owns a .353 average (6 for 17).

From the pitching side, the Bearcats were led by Jade Smith (So., RHP, Chico, Calif./Woodland HS). Smith pitched in three games over the weekend with two starts and one relief appearance. She went 3-0 and allowed just one run for a 0.66 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.

On the season, Smith is now 8-7 with a 2.82 ERA over 92 innings pitched. She has registered 10 complete games over her 14 starts (17 appearances), while striking out 36 batters and allowing 24 walks.

Lewis & Clark has an 8-23 overall record and is 5-15 in conference play. Last season, the Bearcats split the season series, winning one game and losing one game during both double headers.

Leading the Pioneers this season on offense has been Amanda Rabith (Sr., INF) and Hannah Dal Pra (Jr., INF). Rabith leads the team with 31 hits and a .330 average (31 for 94), while also driving in 12 runs and hitting two homers. Dal Pra leads L&C with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and seven doubles. She has scored 14 runs.

Other contributors this season include Ateisha Norton (Fr., C/OF) and Haley Robinson (Jr., OF). Norton leads the Pioneers with a .353 batting average (24 for 68), while recording five doubles. Robinson has scored a team-high 15 runs and 11 stolen bases.

In the circle, the two primary pitchers have been Madison Hollenbeck (Sr., P/1B) and Kalin Rooney (So., P). Both hold identical 3-9 records, while Hollenbeck has thrown 82 2/3 innings to Rooney's 74 2/3 innings. Each have started 11 games and tossed five complete games, while Hollenbeck's ERA is currently 4.06 and Rooney's is at 4.69.