Willamette Rallies Twice against Pioneers to win 9-8 and 6-3

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

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University rallied from a six-run deficit in the first game and overcame a smaller margin in the second game, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College twice on Saturday, April 11 at the WU Softball Field. The Bearcats won the opener, 9-8, and took the second game, 6-3.

Willamette battled back from a 7-1 deficit after 2 1/2 innings in the first game and overcame a 3-0 deficit after 2 1/2 innings in the second game.

Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) ended the first game when she smacked a walk-off triple with two outs and a runner at first base in the bottom of the seventh inning. Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) scored on the play.

With the two wins, the Bearcats improved to 13-19 and went to 10-12 in the Northwest Conference. Lewis & Clark fell to 8-25 overall, 5-17 in the NWC.

In the opener, Lewis & Clark trailed 1-0, but the Pioneers took advantage of two Willamette errors to score five unearned runs in the top of the second. Madison Hollenbeck was hit by a pitch. Amanda Rabith sent a fielder's choice toward third, but a throwing error allowed Hollenbeck to advance two bases.

One out later, Lindsay Yearman single to left field, driving in Hollenbeck. With two outs, Ashley Bolick provided an RBI singled on an infield hit and Haley Robinson drove in one run with a double down the left field line. Bolick scored from third when Tiana Rosario's grounder was misplayed at shortstop.

The Pioneers tacked on two runs in the third. Hollenbeck began the stanza with a double. She went to third on a single by Rabith and scored on a base hit by Yearman. Maddie Lee brought home Rabith with a single.

Willamette picked up two runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) singled, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) walked and stole second. Both runners scored on a single up the middle by Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS).

A solo homer by Hannah Dal Pra in the fourth inning for L&C gave the Pioneers an 8-3 advantage. It was the last run L&C scored during the game.

The Bearcats dented L&C's lead by plating four runs in the fifth. Ramirez tripled and later scored. With one out, Absher singled, Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B/OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) doubled and Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) hit an infield single to load the bases.

One out later, Norris singled through the left side, scoring Absher and Rieger. Danielle Saunders (Fr., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) also singled through the left side to drive in King.

Ramirez singled in the sixth and stole second base. She took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pender to tie the score at 8-8. In the top of the seventh, L&C had runners at second and third with one out, but Robinson lined out to shortstop and Rosario grounded out.

The first two batters for WU in the seventh flied out to the outfield. Shields pinch-hit and walked on a 3-2 pitch. Norris belted her game-winning triple to left center, allowing Shields to round the bases and end the game.

Norris was 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Ramirez also was 3 for 4 and scored three times, while Absher went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. For L&C, Rabith was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, while Yearman went 2 for 4 and earned two RBIs.

Lewis & Clark achieved the first three runs in the second game. Two scored on a homer by Hollenbeck with two outs in the first inning. The third run was plated in the third, when Hollenbeck scored on a double by Ateisha Norton.

WU pulled within 3-1 in the bottom of the third, as Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) tripled with one out and scored on a single by Ramirez. Winslow finished the game 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.

The Bearcats surged into the lead with five runs on seven hits in the fifth. Saunders singled to start the inning and moved to second on a passed ball. Winslow doubled to left center to drive in Saunders. Ramirez also doubled and went to third on the throw as Winslow scored. Pender added a sacrifice fly.

Later in the inning, Norris drove in a run with a single down the right field line. King completed the scoring when she went home on a wild pitch.

One-out singles by Yearman and Stephanie Garcia gave L&C runners in the sixth, but an infield pop-up and a fly out to center ended the threat. The Pios sent just three batters to the plate in the seventh, as WU secured the win.

Winslow was one of five Bearcats with two hits in the second game. The others were Ramirez, Absher, Rieger and King. Rieger hit a leadoff triple in the fourth inning, but was left on base.

Yearman went 3 for 3 for L&C. Hollenbeck was 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs.

Willamette pitcher Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) entered the game with two runners on and no outs in the second inning. She limited L&C to one unearned run and six hits. Smith improved to 9-7. Hollenbeck fell to 3-10.

In the first game, Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) provided WU with 4 2/3 innings of quality relief to earn the win. She allowed five hits and one run. L&C reliever Hallie Knife slipped to 1-2.

Willamette will host archrival Linfield College in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18. Game time at the WU Softball Field is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).