Medina Strikes Out 7 Batters, but Warner Pacific Completes Sweep with 4-0 Win

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

MILWAUKIE, Ore. -- Ashley Medina (Fy, P, San Ysidro, CA/Otay Ranch HS) of Willamette University struck out seven batters in the second game of a doubleheader against Warner Pacific University on Monday, Feb. 17, but the Knights scored one run in the fourth inning to break a 0-0 tie, and added three runs in the seventh to win 4-0. In the opener, the Knights scored nine runs in the first inning at the Rex Putnam High School Softball Field on their way to an 11-0, run rule victory in five innings. WPU advanced its record to 7-2, while Willamette slipped to 1-4.

Medina kept the second game scoreless through the first three innings of the nightcap by holding the Knights to just one hit per inning, as all three runners were left on base. Rebekah Roe singled with one out in the first inning. Emma Foster doubled to left field with one out in the second inning, and Grace Utto started the third inning with a double to center, but the Bearcats played strong defense to prevent Warner Pacific from scoring.

In the top of the fourth inning, Devinne Amesquita blasted a leadoff home run to left center to give WPU a 1-0 lead. One out later, Foster walked. Raegan Kirsop hit into a fielder's choice, but Foster moved up to second and third on the play when the ball was dropped at second base. Gabriella Kramer hit a short sacrifice bunt toward third base that allowed Kirsop to reach second, but Foster had to hold at third. Medina forced Utto to ground out to end the inning.

The Knights scored three runs in the fifth to expand their lead to 4-0. Sarah Stanfill doubled to begin the stanza, and then stole third. After Roe flied out to center field, Makenzie Kimura hit an RBI single up the middle to send Stanfill across the plate. Amesquita batted next and hit a two-run homer to left field. Kimura also scored on the play.

Willamette registered its first hit of the second game in the bottom of the fifth when Kelsey Wong (So., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) connected for an infield single. Roe, who played shortstop, made a diving stop to her right to keep the ball on the infield. Wong stole second before Cassie Cosler (So., 1B, Albany, OR/West Albany HS) walked. Olivia Scott (Sr., OF, San Francisco, CA/Lowell HS) pinch-ran for Cosler. One out later, Wong was thrown out at third when Vanessa Almaraz (Sr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) hit into a fielder's choice. The inning ended when WPU threw Scott out at third on an attempted steal.

Marykate DeLuca (Fy, C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) singled as the first batter in the bottom of the seventh to earn WU's second hit. DeLuca was thrown out when Shaye Mott (Fy, P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) sent a fielder's choice near second. The Bearcats were unable to create additional hits, as the Knights secured their second shutout.

Melia Croydon of Warner Pacific pitched all seven innings of the second game to improve to 3-1. She struck out five batters, while allowing two hits and two walks. Medina also threw a complete game highlighted by her seven strikeouts. She gave up nine hits and three walks.

Amesquita was the key hitter for the Knights during the nightcap, as she went 2 for 3 with two homers, two runs scored, a walk and three RBIs. Foster was 2 for 2 with a double and two walks. Kimura finished 2 of 4 with one run and one RBI.

In the first game, the nine runs scored by Warner Pacific in the first inning provided the Knights with a comfortable cushion. The Knights put together 10 hits on doubles by Roe and Katie Gleasman plus eight singles. The Bearcats committed two errors during the inning.

Warner Pacific tacked on one run in the second inning. Pitcher Chase Pierce singled with one out and later scored on an RBI double by Roe. During the third inning, Amesquita smacked a leadoff homer to center field. It was her third home run of the season. After adding two home runs in the second game, she now has five homers this year.

The Bearcats achieved five hits in the first game, but were unable to score a run. The hits were by five Willamette players. Almaraz pounded a double with one out in the bottom of the third for the only extra-base hit. Almaraz went to third base on a ground out by Brianna Majors (Fy, SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS), but Chase caused Adele Benny (Fy, OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) to ground out to end the stanza. WU players with a single during the game were Majors, Benny, DeLuca and Mott.

For WPU, Roe was 3 for 5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Gleasman went 2 for 2 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Amesquita was 2 of 3 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs. Kimura finished 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. Pierce, now 4-1, pitched all five innings. Jocelyn Glasgo (Sr., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) started for WU and fell to 0-1.

Willamette will not play again until Saturday, Feb. 29, when the Bearcats are scheduled to host Pacific Lutheran University in the first of two Northwest Conference doubleheaders at the WU Softball Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PST). The series will conclude on Sunday, March 1 starting at 11 a.m.