Pomona-Pitzer Sweeps Doubleheader from Bearcats, 2-0 and 8-5

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Pomona-Pitzer won a pitchers' duel and a high-scoring game on its way to a doubleheader sweep against Willamette University, 2-0 and 8-5, on Tuesday, March 27 at Wig Beach Field. The Sagehens upped their record to 17-6 on the season. Willamette dropped to 3-16.

In the opener, Willamette starter Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) and Pomona-Pitzer starter Liz Rodarte each tossed a complete game and did not allow an earned run. The Sagehens scored an unearned run in the first inning and tallied another unearned run in the second inning to secure the win. Willamette outhit Pomona-Pitzer 6-5.

The Sagehens registered 12 hits and committed two errors in the second game. Willamette connected for six hits at the plate and made four errors on defense. Pomona-Pitzer scored two runs in the second inning, added three in the third and two in the fourth for a 7-0 lead. The Bearcats countered with four runs in the top of the fifth and one run in the sixth to pull within 7-5, but Pomona-Pitzer added an insurance run in the sixth.

Danielle Koontz (Fr., 2B, Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) went 4 of 7 for the Bearcats during the doubleheader. She walked and hit a double in the first game and scored once in the second game. Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) was 3 for 5 overall, including a solo homer, two walks, two runs and an RBI in the second game. Glasgo belted a triple in the second game.

Izzy Deatherage of Pomona-Pitzer went 2 of 3 in the first game. Karina Falkstrom was 3 for 3 with a run and three RBIs in the second game. Also in the second game, Natalie Ireland was 3 of 4 with two runs and two RBIs, while Olivia Campion was 2 for 4 with one run and one RBI.

Pitchers' Duel Goes to Sagehens in First Game

With Glasgo and Rodarte pitching well in the first game, scoring chances were at a minimum. The Sagehens took advantage of defensive mistakes by the Bearcats in the first two innings to score the game's only runs in a 2-0 win for Pomona-Pitzer.

Campion walked as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first. A single by Missy Pekarek advanced Campion to second. Rodarte walked to load the bases. Campion scored on a passed ball. Pekarek went to third and Rodarte went to second on the play, but Pekarek also tried to score and was thrown out at home. Glasgo struck out Deatherage and Makensey Druckman walked, before Ireland grounded out to end the threat.

Back-to-back errors to start the Pomona-Pitzer half of the second inning put Julia Maya and Kelsey Buchanan on base. Baleigh McCuskey singled through the left side to drive home Maya.

Willamette's best opportunities to score were in the fourth and seventh innings. In the fourth, Sofia Magnani (So., P/OF, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS) batted first and singled through the left side. Two outs later, Gier singled to left field and Magnani went to second. The inning ended when Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) was called out for batter's interference. In the seventh, Gier singled to start the frame. Two outs later, Koontz walked to put runners at first and second. Rodarte struck out Breianna Mcleod (Fr., SS/UT, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) to end the game.

Rodarte improved to 10-2 with the shutout win. She registered seven strikeouts and allowed just one walk. Glasgo took the loss and moved to 1-7. She struck out one batter and gave up four walks, but did not allow an earned run.

Pomona-Pitzer Builds Lead, Bearcats Storm Back before Sagehens Win

In the second game, Pomona-Pitzer surged out to a 7-0 advantage, but Willamette battled back within 7-5, before the Sagehens clinched the win with an insurance run in the sixth. The game featured a significant amount of offense, with Pomona-Pitzer benefiting from 12 hits and two walks, while the Bearcats amassed six hits, six walks and two hit batsmen.

The Sagehens tallied the game's first two runs in the second inning. Deatherage and Ireland began the stanza with consecutive hits. Maya provided a sacrifice bunt, sending the runners to second and third. Falkstrom hit an RBI single to score Deatherage. With two outs McCuskey singled through the right side to drive in Ireland. A single by Campion loaded the bases, but Michelle Blair hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

An RBI single by Ireland and a two-run homer by Falkstrom allowed Pomona-Pitzer to extend its margin to 5-0 in the third inning.

In the fourth stanza, McCuskey belted a leadoff triple to center field. Campion added an RBI double and then scored an unearned run when Blair reached by on an infield error. After Campion scored, Blair was thrown out at second base. The final two outs of the inning were recorded on a fly out and a pop-up.

Willamette surged on offense in the fifth inning, as the Bearcats scored four runs on five hits. The inning began with Gier's home run to center field. Bishop hit an infield single and Olivia Scott walked. Koontz singled through the left side, but Bishop was thrown out at the plate. Scott was put out at home when Mcleod hit into a fielder's choice. With two outs, Glasgo hit a two-run triple to right and Magani provided an RBI single up the middle.

In the top of the sixth, Gier received a leadoff walk. Bishop reached base on a fielder's choice, as the shortstop was unable to handle the throw at second for the force out on Gier. The error allowed Gier to score and Bishop to reach third base. Maya Shipway (So., 1B, Bothell, WA/The Bear Creek School) pinch-hit for Scott and reached first base on an error by the third baseman, but Bishop had to hold at third.

Scott re-entered and ran for Shipway. Scott stole second. Two outs later, Glasgo walked. The Sagehens ended the inning by throwing out Glasgo at second when Magnani hit into a fielder's choice.

Rodarte hit into a fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth. She reached second when Deatherage reached base on an error at shortstop. Rodarte scored on a single by Ireland to give Pomona-Pitzer an 8-5 lead.

Alondra Reynoso pitched 4 2/3 innings as the starter for Pomona-Pitzer, as she improved to 7-3. Rodarte tossed the seventh inning for her first save of the season. Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS), who started for the Bearcats, fell to 0-3 with the loss.

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette will take on University of St. Katherine in two neutral-site games at Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday, March 28. St. Katherine will bat last in the first game and the Bearcats will bat last in the second game. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (PDT).