Pender Hits Two Homers in First Game, but Bruins Sweep Doubleheader

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

NEWBERG, Ore. -- George Fox University scored the final six runs in the first game for an 11-5 win, and then limited Willamette University to just two hits in the second game, as the Bruins swept a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 10. The Bruins, who won the second game 7-0, improved to 24-12 on the season, 14-10 in the NWC. Willamette slipped to 14-15 overall, 10-14 in the NWC.

GFU Pulls Away Late in First Game

Ashley Pender (Sr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) of Willamette smacked a solo home run to start the first game and added a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Bearcats a 3-0 lead. Pender has blasted six home runs this season and has hit 13 homers in her career.

George Fox scored two runs in the bottom of the third on a home run by Annie Veatch. The Bruins added three runs in the fourth inning, including two on a home run by Tia Uyehara, to take a 5-3 advantage. Kimi Ito also drove in a run with an RBI single.

Willamette tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, before GFU moved back in front, 7-5, with two runs in the bottom of the stanza.

For WU, Alex Shields (Jr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) opened the inning with a walk. Mallory Asaro (Jr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) doubled up the middle, sending Shields to third. One out later, Kathryn Hammitt (So., OF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) drove in both runners with a single.

Also with just one out, Victoria Bradshaw (Sr., OF, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) bunted toward the circle and reached base on an error by the third baseman. A grounder by Alexia Pratt (Jr., OF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) advanced the runners to second and third, but a foul out to the catcher ended the threat.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bruins scored two runs on three hits, but left the bases loaded. Kat Hylton brought in one run with a single, while Uyehara registered the other RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field.

George Fox tacked on four runs in the sixth to create the final score. Veatch, who batted second in the inning, connected for her second two-run homer of the game and 12th home run of the season.

For Willamette, Pender finished the game 2 for 2 with two walks, two homers, two runs and three RBIs. Veatch was 2 for 2 for GFU, with two walks, two homers, two runs and four RBIs.

Bruins Shut Out Bearcats in Second Game

In the second game, GFU scored twice in the first inning and once in the third for a 3-0 lead.

Ito produced a leadoff bunt single to begin the bottom of the first. Kayla Anderson advanced Ito to third with a double down the right field line. Veatch walked on a full-count pitch, before Amanda Woods hit a two-run single. Woods added a solo homer with two outs in the third inning.

The Bruins added three runs in the fifth to expand the margin to 6-0, and then scored the final run in the sixth.

All three runs in the fifth were scored on a home run by Anderson. Rebecca Pridmore and Ito also scored on the play. Ito drove in the only run of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly.

Madison Sorensen recorded both wins for GFU. She pitched the fifth and sixth innings in the opener, and then struck out four Bearcats and limited WU to two hits, while throwing all seven innings in the second game. Sorensen upped her record to 11-4.

Jade Smith (Jr., RHP, Chico, CA/Chico HS) pitched the first 4 1/3 innings in the opener and fell to 5-10 on the season. Reanna Lancaster (Fr., LHP, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) threw every inning in the second game, but fell to 7-3.

Woods finished 3 for 3 in the second game with a homer and three RBIs. Anderson was 2 of 4 with a double, a homer and three RBIs. Willamette's hits were earned by Shields and Carrie Fox (So., OF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS).

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette will host Pacific University at the WU Softball Field in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16. The first game is set to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT). It will be Senior Day for the Bearcats.