Willamette Earns 23 Hits in Doubleheader Sweep of Puget Sound, 6-4 and 9-2

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Willamette University softball team connected for 13 hits in the first game and added 10 hits during the second game, as the Bearcats took both games of a doubleheader against University of Puget Sound, 6-4 and 9-2, on Saturday, March 25 at Logger Field. The games were originally set for Feb. 26, but were postponed due to the weather.

Willamette swept the four-game Northwest Conference series. WU won the series opener, 11-5, on Feb. 25. The second game was suspended in a 9-9 tie after seven innings on Feb. 25 because of darkness. When the game resumed on Saturday, the Bearcats prevailed 12-11 in nine innings (see separate story).

Mallory Asaro (Sr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) of Willamette smacked a home run in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Steffany Dunn (Sr., RF, Colfax, CA/Colfax HS) belted a homer in the second game, while Asaro pounded out two doubles.

Darian Gibson (So., LF, Newport Beach, CA/Calvary HS) and Kea Gier (Fr., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) each hit a double for WU in the opener, while Jocelyn Glasgo (Fr., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) provided a double in the second game.

Morgan Penn (Fr., P/1B, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) was credited with the win in the first game of the doubleheader, while Glasgo pitched the seventh inning to earn a save. Jade Smith (Sr., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) tossed the first five innings in the second game to earn the win.

It was Smith's second win of the day, as she earned the victory in the completion of the suspended game to start the afternoon. Smith is now 5-4 on the season.

Bearcats Hold Off Loggers in First Game

The Bearcats built leads of 4-0 and 5-1 before holding of Puget Sound for a 6-4 win in the first game.

WU took a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Miki Takara (Fr., 2B, Pearl City, HI/Maryknoll HS) walked to start the game. She stole second base, and then went to third on a ground out by Alex Shields (Sr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS).

Gibson singled toward third base and later stole second. Takara scored when Asaro grounded out to shortstop. Gibson reached home on a single by Taiana Creekmur (Fr., C, Honolulu, HI/St. Francis HS).

The Bearcats plated two more runs in the second. With one out, Alexia Pratt (Sr., CF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) singled to left and went to second on an error by the left fielder. An infield hit by Glasgo moved Pratt to third. After Glasgo stole second base, Takra drove in Pratt with a ground out toward first. Shields sent a single up the middle to allow Glasgo to score.

Puget Sound earned one run on three hits in the bottom of the second, but left the bases loaded. Jessica Gott opened the stanza with a double to left. She scored later in the inning when Mckenna Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Makayla Hari (Sr., P, Salem, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) went to the circle and forced an infield fly and a fielder's choice to end the threat.

In the fifth inning, Gibson doubled for Willamette and scoed one out later on a single by Creekmur. Puget Sound tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a solo homer by Jaci Young, to pull within 5-4.

WU completed the scoring on a solo home run to right centrr by Asaro with one out in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Glasgo forced Erica Gott to ground out, before Jessica Gott reached base on an error at shortstop. Glasgo struck out the next to batters to end the game.

Gibson was 3 of 4 with two runs scored. Asaro, Creekmur, Gier and Glasgo each contributed two hits.

Big Sixth Inning by Bearcats Clinches Win in Second Game

Willamette scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to turn a 4-2 lead into a 9-2 advantage in the second game. Reanna Lancaster (So., P, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) tossed the final two innings to help the Bearcats complete the series sweep.

The Bearcats scored single runs in each of the first two inning. Asaro smacked an RBI double in the first inning, while Glsago did the same in the second inning.

After Puget Sound tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second and another run in the third, the Bearcats edged back in front with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Dunn singled with one out in the fourth and eventually scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth, Takara received a leadoff walk, and later reached home on a sacrifice fly by Gibson.

The sixth inning featured five hits by the Bearcats and two errors by the Loggers. Gier reached first on a fielding error at second base to start the inning. Dunn batted next and blasted a two-run homer to center. Pratt singled up the middle, and scored two batters later on the second error of the inning. Shields and Gibson each added an RBI single.

Dunn went 2 for 3 with three runs, a walk and two RBIs for the Bearcats. Shields also finished 2 for 3 with one run scored. Asaro was 2 for 4 with an RBI, while Glasgo finished 2 for 4, scored once and had one RBI.

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette is set to play University of Redlands (Calif.) in a doubleheader in Southern California on Tuesday, March 28. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (PDT).