Willamette Edges Pacific Lutheran Twice, 5-4 in 8 Innings and 7-5

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Each team held the lead at some point in both games, but Willamette University broke a tie in the eighth inning of one game and the seventh inning of the other, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 5-4 in eight innings and 7-5, on Friday, March 30 at WU Softball Field. The teams will finish the series with two games on Saturday, March 31 at 12 p.m. (PDT).

In the first game, Willamette rallied from a 4-2 deficit with two runs in the sixth inning, and eventually won the game two innings later. In the bottom of the eighth, pitcher Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) flied out to center field for the second out, sending Breianna Mcleod (Fr., SS/UT, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) from second base to third. Mcleod scored when the third baseman misplayed the throw from the outfield.

The Bearcats broke a 5-5 tie in the second game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School). The Lutes loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Willamette relief pitcher Sofia Magnani (So., P/OF, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS), who tossed 1 1/3 innings, got out of the jam.

"Our players are so resilient," Willamette Head Coach Damain Williams noted. "They fought for those wins today. I'm so proud of them."

By sweeping the doubleheader, the Bearcats improved to 5-18 on the season, 5-11 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran fell to 8-20 overall, 3-15 in the NWC.

Glasgo Pitches a Complete Game to Win Opener for Bearcats

Willamette scored the first run in the second inning of the opener. Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DPUT, Athena, ORWeston-McEween HS) singled to right with one out, and advanced to second and third when the ball eluded the right fielder. Maya Shipway (So., 1B, Bothell, WA/The Bear Creek School) brought home Hillmick with a sacrfice fly to center field.

The Lutes moved in front with a pair of runs in the to top of the fourth. Kathryn Hatlin hit a double with one out. Elise Fruend singled up the middle before Delaney Salter doubled to score Hatlin. Freund reached the plate on a ground out by Jessica Alcomendas. WU tied the score in the bottom of the inning, when Mcleod was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a single down the right field line by Magnani.

Pacific Lutheran regained the lead with two runs in the fifth. With two outs, Anna Overland was hit by a pitch and Kennedy Robillard singled. Hatlen drove in both runs with a double to right center. The Bearcats forced the game into a 4-4 tie with two runs in the sixth. Mcleod was at second base with one out when Glasgo belted an RBI double. Glasgo scored with two outs on a single by Hillmick.

The Bearcats escaped a jam in the top of the seventh when the Lutes had the bases loaded with one out. Glasgo caused Hatlen to foul out to first base, and then got Freund to ground out to shortstop.

Mcleod singled to center field for Willamette with one out in the bottom of the eighth. She went to second on a passed ball. Glasgo's fly out to center gave Mcleod a chance to run toward third. Mcleod and the throw from the outfield reached third at nearly the same time. The third baseman was unable to field the ball and Mcleod scored the winning run.

Hillmick was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI for the Bearcats. Mcleod went 2 for 2 and scored three runs. Hatlen went 3 of 4 for PLU, while Robillard went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Glasgo tossed all eight innings. She struck out two batters and allowed one walk. Marissa Miller of PLU also pitched the entire game. She earned three strikeouts and had no walks.

Gier's Double Drives in Winning Runs in Second Game

Willamette took advantage of two errors at shortsotp to zoom out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. With one out, Olivia Scott (So., C, San Francisco, CA/Lowell HS) reached base on a throwing error and stole second. Glasgo, who played in the outfield, went to first on a fielding error. Scott reached third on the play. After Glasgo stole second, Magnani scored Scott with a single to the circle. Magnani stole second before Hillmick drove in Glasgo with a ground out and Shipway hit a single to score Magnani.

In the top of the second, Alexis Okamura connected for a two-run double with two outs and the bases loaded to pull the Lutes within 3-2. The score didn't change until the fifth inning, when Pacific Lutheran grabbed a 4-3 edge. Both runs scored on a two-out double by Overland with runners at first and second.

Willamette regained the advantage at 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) singled and Mcleod walked. A ground out moved the runners to second and third. Glasgo hit a single through the left side. An error by the second baseman at the end of the play allowed Mcleod to score.

Hatlen blasted a homer to left field as the first batter in the sixth inning. Okamura doubled with two outs and Gabriella Moreno walked, but the Lutes left both runners on base.

The bottom of the sixth began with Hillmick smacking a line drive toward Robillard in the circle. Robillard stretched to her left, but the ball bounced off the edge of her glove and fell between first and second. Shipway batted next and bunted in front of the plate. Overland charged in from third, but her throw went wide of first base for an erorr. Shipway went to second and Hillmick was at third. Gier smacked a double to center to drive in both runners, but was thrown out trying to reach third. Two ground outs ended the inning.

Becca Sorensen and Robillard each singled, and Hatlen was hit by a pitch, to load the bases for the Lutes with one out in the seventh. Magnani caused Fruend to hit the ball toward third, allowing Gier to throw Sorensen out at the plate. Salter fouled out to right field to end the game.

Seven Bearcats each recorded one hit. Sorensen, Overland, Hatlen and Okamura each contributed two hits for Pacific Lutheran.