Bearcats Will Travel to Spokane, Wash., to Begin Conference Play

By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- For their first taste of Northwest Conference action, the Willamette University softball team will head northeast to take on Whitworth University in a four-game series beginning on Saturday, Feb. 28 and ending on Sunday, Mar. 1. Both days feature doubleheaders set to begin 12 p.m. (PST).

Despite the Bearcats not capturing a victory during their six-game stint down in Southern California last weekend, Willamette did battle fierce competition, including nationally-ranked Concordia University Irvine, which won the 2013 NAIA National Championship and was ranked #8 coming into this season.

WU had impressive performances from Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS), Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS), and Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS).

In 15 at bats, Winslow hit .333 with two doubles, a home run, and five runs batted in, while slugging .667. She also stole three bases and recorded 35 putouts while playing first base over the trip to Southern California.

Similarly, Pender hit .333 in 15 at bats, while hitting one double and achieving an impressive .444 on-base percentage. She also stole two bases and played solid defensively, recording eight assists at second base.

Rieger, who hit primarily in the lead-off position, batted .300 with two doubles and swiped an outstanding six bags. As a team, the Bearcats stole 20 bases and were not caught stealing once.

Other contributors for Willamette in their first six games were Erin Norris(Sr., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), who hit a pinch-hit two-run homer on Feb. 20 against Pomona-Pitzer, and Myranda Ramirez (So., Sunnyvale, Calif./Homestead HS), who went 4 for 8 (.500) while scoring two runs.

Jenna King(Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) provided a team-high five runs scored, while batting .286 over 14 at bats. She also stole four bases and hit one double.

As for Whitworth, the Pirates achieved a 7-3 preseason record, while traveling to Southern California at the end of January and early February. Similar to the Bearcats, the Pirates took on Pomona-Pitzer, but also played Cal Lutheran University, Whittier College, University of La Verne, and University of Redlands.

In the 2015 Northwest Conference Softball Preseason Poll, the Pirates were predicted to place third, just one spot ahead of Willamette.

Leading Whitworth so far this season have been Megan John (Jr., C/OF) and Peyton McMahon (Sr., OF), who have each hit one home run and knocked in 11 RBI's. John is leading the team with a .478 batting average (11 of 23) and four doubles, while McMahon is batting .400 (12 of 30) with three doubles.

Another hitter at the top of the lineup to watch out for will be Chelsea Hayes (Fr., OF). Through her first 10 collegiate games, Hayes is batting .457 (16 of 35). She has hit three doubles and a triple.

Alyssa Hall (Jr., OF) and Shannon Wessel (So., UT) will also be dangerous bats for Whitworth, as they hit .433 (13 of 30) and .355 (11 of 31) respectively. Hall also leads the team with nine runs scored and five stolen bases, while Wessel is tied for the team lead with four doubles.

As a team, the Pirates are hitting .353 and have also had strong performances in the circle. Through its first 10 games, Whitworth has achieved a team earned run average of 2.00, led by Madi Perez (So., RHP) and Makayla Lefever (So., RHP).

Perez has thrown 32 innings and achieved 2.19 ERA, while tossing five complete games on her way to a 4-1 record. Lefever has earned a 1.12 ERA, while recording a 3-1 record in 25 innings pitched. She has pitched two complete games.