Willamette Battles Warner Pacific before Falling to Knights, 3-2, in Portland

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to pull within one run of Warner Pacific University on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Delta Park, but the Bearcats were unable to tie the game, as the Knights held on for a 3-2 win. Warner Pacific improved to 4-1 on the season. Willamette, playing in its season opener, ended the evening at 0-1.

The Bearcats outhit the Knights, 11-7, led by two first-year players. Marykate DeLuca (Fy, C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) went 3 for 3 with a double and a run scored for Willamette. Brianna Majors (Fy., 2B/SS, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Jocelyn Glasgo (Sr., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) finished 2 for 4 and scored in the seventh inning, while Cassie Cosler was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Katie Gleasman was 2 of 3 at the plate for Warner Pacific with one run scored. Emma Foster went 1 for 2 with a solo home run and a walk. Makenzie Kimura was 1 for 3 with a two-run triple.

Willamette added the first run to the scoreboard in the second inning. With one out, DeLuca doubled to right field. One out later, Cosler singled through the left side of the infield to drive home DeLuca. Adele Benny (Fy, OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) reached base on an error by the third baseman, but WPU pitcher Chase Pierce forced Glasgo into a pop-up to end the threat.

The Bearcats remained in front 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth. Gleasman opened the stanza with a single to center field, an Devinne Amesquita followed with another single. Foster flied out to right field to advance Gleasman to third. Amesquita stole second base. Gleasman and Amesquita scoreed when Kimura belted a triple to center. Back-to-back ground outs ended the inning with Kimura still at third base.

Warner Pacific recorded two hits and benefited from two errors in the fifth inning, but WU starting pitcher Ashley Medina (Fy, P, San Ysidro, CA/Otay Ranch HS) kept the Knights from scoring forcing them to leave two runners on base. On inning later, the Knights increased their lead to 3-1 when Foster opened the frame with her solo homer.

In the top of the seventh, Cosled led off for the Bearcats and singled up the middle. Gianna Marchese hit into a 6-3 double play. Glasgo batted next and reached first base on an error by the first baseman. Majors followed with a double, allowing Glasgo to score and cutting WPU's lead to 3-2. Pierce escaped the jam with the tying run at second by causing Payten Healy (So., SS, Crescent City, CA/Del Norte HS) to fly out to left field for the third out.

Pierce upped her pitching record to 3-0 on the season. She threw all seven innings and allowed both runs -- one was earned -- and 11 hits. Willamette put the ball into play during nearly every at bat, as Pierce registered just one strikeout and did not give up a walk. Medina threw five innings for the Bearcats and took the loss. She struck out four batters while allowing six hits and one walk.

Glasgo, who went to the circle for Willamette following Foster's home run in the sixth, did not allow a run, held the Knights to one hit, and earned one strikeout.

Willamette and Warner Pacific are scheduled to meet again this weekend with a doubleheader set for Saturday, Feb. 15. First pitch in the opening game will be at 11 a.m. (PST), with the second game slated for 1:30 p.m.