Bearcats Roll Past Northwest Nazarene, 10-6 and 21-12

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

NAMPA, Idaho -- Willamette University achieved its highest-scoring doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, March 25 at Northwest Nazarene University, as the Bearcats rolled past the Crusaders 10-6 and 21-12 on the run rule in six innings. The Bearcats pounded out 36 hits on the day, with 16 hits in the opener and 20 hits in the second game.

Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) led Willamette's successful attack as she went 6 for 9 at the plate with a double and a triple. She scored three runs, stole three bases and contributed six RBIs. Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) was 5 for 8 with three runs, one stolen base and two RBIs.

Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) hit for three-fourths of the cycle in the first game with a single, a double and a triple. During the doubleheader, she was 4 for 8 with three runs and seven RBIs. Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) and Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) also went 4 for 8.

Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, improved its record to 6-14, including five wins in its last six games. Northwest Nazarene, which competes in NCAA Division II, dropped to 4-23.

The biggest inning of the day was for Willamette in the first inning of the second game, when the Bearcats scored 13 runs on 12 hits, including three doubles and a triple. Northwest Nazarene scored seven runs in the bottom of the third to pull within 13-7 and got as close as 15-11 after four innings. WU led 17-12 after five frames and then scored four runs in the sixth.

WU also started quickly in the first game, as the Bearcats plated five runs on five hits in the opening stanza. Winslow opened the game with a bunt single near the circle, and then stole second. One out later, with Winslow at third, Pender placed a bunt single up the middle to score Winslow.

Later in the first, with two outs and the bases loaded, Rieger hit a two-run single to center. Carrie Fox (Fr., OF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) then singled toward the circle to drive in two additional runs.

The Crusaders pulled within 5-2 in the second inning, when Ali Schauer doubled with Ashley Pezek on first. Pezek scored on the play. Schauer also scored following a throwing error after the ball was returned to the infield.

Willamette tacked on three runs in its next at bat, with Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) providing an RBI single and Winslow hitting a two-RBI double. Northwest Nazarene cut the margin to 8-6 with a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fourth. Whitney Carlton drove in one of the runs during the third inning with a triple to right center.

Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) pitched the first four innings for the Bearcats. She recorded the win and improved to 4-5. Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) tossed the final three innings and earned her first save of the season. She allowed no runs and two hits.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats added one run in the fifth and one in the seventh to finish with a 10-6 lead. In the fifth, Rieger led off the inning with a triple and scored on a wild pitch. In the seventh, Rieger doubled with one out and later scored on a double by Winslow.

Six Bearcats earned two or more hits in the first game, led by Rieger and Winslow, who both went 3 for 4. Rieger led all players with three runs scored, while Winslow drove in a game-high three runs. For NNU, Schauer was 2 for 3 with two runs and Carlton went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Willamette's first inning onslaught in the second game featured two hits each by five players. The innings included a triple by Winslow, plus doubles by Absher, King and Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS). All nine batters went to the plate two times during the inning.

NNU's seven-run third inning included a three-run double by Carlton and a thee run homer by Gatalina Schuster. Lily Paschal connected for an RBI double to bring in the first of four runs for the Crusader's in the fourth inning.

After WU upped its lead to 17-11 in the top of the fifth, Makayla Hari (So., P, Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) went to the circle for the Bearcats. She gave up three consecutive singles to start the inning and allowed one run when Carlton hit a sacrifice fly that was dropped, but kept the Crusaders from scoring again in the fifth. A double play and a groundout ended the threat.

The Bearcats extended their lead to 21-12 with four runs in the seventh. Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) drove in the first run with a single, and Rieger brought in the final three runs with a bases-clearing double.

Hari faced four batters to lock up the game on the run rule in the bottom of the sixth. She forced a groundout before Schuster hit a double, and then Hari ended the game with two more groundouts.

Leading Willamette in the second game were Winslow at 3 for 5, and Ramirez, who finished 3 for 4. Five other Bearcats registered two hits. Ramirez and King each scored three runs. Rieger earned five RBIs, while Winslow and Absher each produced three RBIs. Carlton of NNU was 2 for 3 with two runs and five RBIs.

Victoria Bradshaw (Jr., P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS), who pitched 1 1/3 innings in the middle of the game, received the win for the Bearcats. Pesek took the loss for the Crusaders.

Willamette will host George Fox University in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at the WU Softball Field on Saturday, March 28. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).