Pirates Defeat Bearcats 11-2 and 3-2 in NWC Softball Doubleheader

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitworth University scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit and defeat Willamette University, 3-2, in the second game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 10 at the WU Softball Field. The Pirates won the first game 11-2 on the run rule in six innings.

The wins improved Whitworth to 12-3 on the season, including 7-0 in the NWC. Willamette slipped to 0-13 overall, 0-8 in the NWC. Ten of Willamette's games have been against Whitworth, Pacific University and College of Idaho, who have a combined record of 41-10 this season.

For the second consecutive day, Maddy Thomas from Whitworth and Bailey Hillmick (So., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) from Willamette each blasted a home run. Thomas hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the first game. Hillmick smacked a solo homer to open the second inning of the second game.

Jocelyn Glasgo (Jr., P, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) went 2 for 6 overall for Willamette and was 1 for 3 in each game. She belted a triple in the bottom of the sixth inning and went on to score in the second game to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. Glasgo also pitched all seven innings in the second game, which was a pitchers' duel between Glasgo and Drea Schwaier-Wolf of Whitworth.

Glasgo and Schwaier-Wolf Battle in Second Game

Solid efforts from Glasgo and Schwaier-Wolf as the pitchers in the second game made for a low-scoring, tight contest. Glasgo threw a four-hitter, while Schwaier-Wolf allowed six hits.

Whitworth took advantage of two errors in the first inning to score the opening run. With two outs and Sara Gayer on first base, Thomas hit into an error at third, which put runners at first and second. Michelle Silva batted next and gained two bases on an additional error at third. Gayer scored on the play.

In the top of the second, Whitworth's Logan Miller singled with one out. She stole second base and went to third on a wild pitch. Miller was stranded after Glasgo struck out Desi Graham and caused Kaylie Lowery to ground out.

Hillmick batted first for Willamette in the bottom of the second and smashed a home run over the right center field fence. It was her third home run of the season.

Whitworth left two runners on base in the third and fourth innings. In each case the Pirates had a runner at third when the inning ended. Willamette also threatened to score in the third. Emily Bishop (Sr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) singled, reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Breianna Mcleod (So., OF, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) and stole third. Schwaier-Wolf forced WU into a strikeout and a line out to left field to get out of the jam.

The next run was scored by Glasgo in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Glasgo tripled to right center. She crossed the plate for a 2-1 lead when Payten Healy (Fr., SS, Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) singled through the left side. Hillmick belted a double off the left center field fence that was only a few feet from being a home run. Healy went to third on the play. A flyout and a strikeout ended the inning.

Lowery batted first for the Pirates in the top of the seventh and earned an infield hit on a bunt toward third. Kinsey McNaught walked, before both runners moved up on a wild pitch.

Gayer hit into a fielder's choice, as Lowery was thrown out at the plate. The play ended with McNaught at third and Gayer on second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, with McNaught scoring. Gayer went across home plate on a sacrifice fly by Thomas. Schwaier-Wolf faced just three Bearcats in the bottom of the seventh to complete the win. She moved to 7-1 on the season.

Hillmick was the only player on either team with two hits during the game. She was 2 of 3 with a home run, a double, one run scored and an RBI.

Big Start Helps Pirates Win First Game

Whitworth scored five runs in the first inning of the opening game. The inning began with four singles that found their way through the infield.

Silva, who batted third, drove in Lowery and McNaught with a single through the left side. Silva advanced to second on the play. After Silva stole third, Gayer drove her home with a single through the left side. Rheanne Lewis reached base on a fielder's choice, as Gayer was tagged out going to second. Thomas followed with a two-run homer to left field.

Willamette allowed just one run over the next three innings. The Bearcats reduced the margin to 6-2 by scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Healy singled, went to second on a wild pitch, and reached third on a ground out by Hillmick. Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) singled through the right side to drive in Healy. A double by Vanessa Almaraz (Jr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) allowed Gier to score.

The Pirates tacked on two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth. In the sixth inning, Graham drove in two of the runs with a double down the right field line. Whitworth won the game on the run rule after preventing the Bearcats from scoring in the bottom of the sixth.

McNaught went 3 of 5 with a run scored for Whitworth. Four Pirates each earned two hits, as the visitors amassed 15 hits overall. Six Bearcats each recorded one hit for Willamette.

Up Next for the Bearcats

Willamette will open a four-game series at Lewis & Clark College with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will play another doubleheader on Sunday March 17, starting at 12 p.m.

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Jocelyn Glasgo blasted a triple in the bottom of the sixth inning
and scored when Bailey Hillmick followed with a double to give
the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. Glasgo leads Willamette with a .370
batting average for the season.