Smith and Lancaster Earn Wins, as Bearcats Sweep Occidental, 4-2 and 11-3

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Jade Smith (Jr., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) and Reanna Lancaster (Fr., P, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) each recorded a pitching victory, and Makayla Hari (Jr., P, Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) provided four innings of relief, as Willamette University swept a doubleheader from Occidental College on Sunday, March 20. The Bearcats were victorious in the first game 4-2 and won the second game 11-3 on the run rule in five innings.

The pair of wins took Willamette's season record to 7-1. Occidental fell to 7-15.

Willamette also received some big plays on offense, as Kathryn Moore (So., 3B, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) and Ashley Pender (Sr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) each pounded a home run in the second game.

Bearcats Win First Game 4-2

Smith pitched the first four innings of the opener. She allowed four hits and one run, while earning one strikeout and improving to 4-1 on the season. Hari pitched the final three innings to register her second save. She gave up four hits and one unearned run.

The Bearcats put up two runs in the first inning. With one out, Danielle Saunders (So., LF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) walked and stole second base. Pender single to left field and advanced to third on the throw, as Saunders crossed the plate. Alex Shields (Jr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) added a single to right field to drive in Pender.

Occidental answered with one run in the bottom of the first. Natalie Glover hit a single through the left side. She went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kira Elliott and reached third on a groundout by Alex Battest. Glover scored on a triple to right field by pitcher Alexis Funaki. A groundout left Funaki stranded at third.

Neither team scored during the next three frames, although both teams left two runners on base in the second inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Bearcats expanded their lead over the Tigers to 4-1. Moore singled and scored two batters later, when Pender reached base on an error. Sounders, who earned a bunt single following Moore's hit, scored next on a sacrifice fly by Victoria Bradshaw (Sr., OF, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS).

The Tigers brought in one run in the bottom of the sixth. Funaki singled with one out. She gave way to pinch-runner Dallas Gunny. Cora Roberts reached first base on a throwing error by Hari, as Gunny went to third. A throwing error from home plate allowed Gunny to score and Roberts to advance to second.

Madison Romero singled through the left side, putting runners at first and third. Roberts was tagged out on a ball hit to Moore at third base. A fly out to left field ended the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Elliott smacked a double down the right field line with two outs. She reached third on a wild pitch, but Battest grounded out to end the game.

Moore was 2 for 4 with a run scored for Willamette. Four other Bearcats each recorded one hit. Funaki was 2 for 3 with an RBI for the Tigers. Glover went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Home Runs Highlight 11-3 Win

Occidental took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, but the Bearcats surged in front with three runs in the third, and took charge of the contest with six runs in the fourth.

In the first inning, Glover singled, stole second and scored when Elliott reached first and second on an error. Ellitott scored with two outs on a single by Roberts.

A single by Steffany Dunn (Jr., SS, Colfax, CA/Colfax HS) started Willamette's third inning. Alexia Pratt (Jr., OF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) reached base on an error at third, which also allowed Dunn to advance two bases. Dunn scored and Pratt went to second on a double steal. Moore batted next and smacked a two-run homer to left field.

During the fourth inning, the Bearcats recorded four hits and two WU batters were hit by pitches. Three of the hits drove in runs. Dunn brought in the first run with a bunt single. The next two runs scored on a single up the middle by Moore. Pender completed the big inning with a three-run, inside-the-park home run, giving WU a 9-2 lead.

Willamette tacked on two runs in the fifth inning, and then limited the Tigers to one run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game on the run rule.

Dunn was 2 for 2 during the game with two runs and one RBI. Moore went 2 for 3, scored twice and drove in four runs. For Occidental, Glover went 2 for 3 with a run, a double and an RBI, while Roberts went 2 for 2 and brought in one run.

Lancaster pitched four innings for Willamette and struck out four batters. She allowed four hits and two runs (both unearned). She improved to 2-0 in the circle. Hari pitched the fifth inning and allowed one run and one hit, while striking out one batter and giving up one walk.

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette will play a doubleheader on Monday, March 21 against. Saint Katherine College. The first game is set to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT) in Poway, California. The Bearcats will conclude the road trip with a single game against Pomona-Pitzer on Tuesday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m.