Softball Series between Willamette and Whitworth will be played in Hermiston

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Northwest Conference softball series between Willamette University and Whitworth University has been moved to the Hermiston High School Field in Hermiston, Oregon, due to snow on the ground at Whitworth's home field in Spokane, Washington. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 11, starting at 11 a.m. (PST). They will complete the series with another doubleheader on Sunday, March 12, with first pitch set for 10 a.m. (PDT).

The Hermiston High School Field is located near Rocky Heights Elementary School at 650 W. Standard Ave. in Hermiston.

Willamette is 1-2 on the season and 1-0 in the NWC. Whitworth enters the weekend with a 9-3 overall record, but the Pirates are 0-0 in the NWC. Whitworth has not played a game since Feb. 12. The Bearcats have not competed since Feb. 25.

Mallory Asaro (Sr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) leads the Bearcats on offense with a .778 hitting percentage (7 of 9). Her seven hits include two doubles, one triple and one home run. She owns a 1.558 slugging percentage and a .800 on-base percentage.

Darian Gibson (So., OF, Newport Beach, CA/Calvary HS) is hitting .444 (4 of 9) for Willamette. Alex Shields is batting (Sr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) is batting .375 (3 of 8).

Willamette pitcher Jade Smith (Sr., Chico, CA/Chico HS) is 1-2 in the circle. She has struck out six batters in nine innings.