WU Rallies from 10-0 Deficit, but Loggers Break 11-11 Tie to Sweep Twinbill

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Kelsey Wong (Jr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) each recorded three hits and three RBIs to lead Willamette University back from a 10-0 deficit in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 28, as the Bearcats tied the score at 11-11 in the fifth inning. The University of Puget Sound regained the lead in the sixth inning and won the game, 16-11, to sweep the doubleheader. The Loggers took the first game, 8-1.

With the pair of victories at the WU Softball Field, Puget Sound improved to 4-8 overall, 4-4 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 3-11 on the season, 2-6 in the NWC.

The Loggers surged out to a 10-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings in the second game, as they scored three runs in the first inning and tacked on seven runs in the second. Puget Sound earned a total of nine hits during the two innings and took advantage of two Willamette errors. Kelsie Sullivan provided the only multiple-RBI hit of the outburst, a 3-run double in the top of the second.

Willamette began its comeback with three runs in the bottom of the second. Two of the runs scored when Kelsey Wong reached first base on an error by the second baseman, and the third run scored on a sacrifice fly by Mia Lund (Fy., OF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS). In the third inning, the Bearcats plated four runs to pull within 10-7. After Brianna Majors (So., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) single to left and Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) doubled near the left field line, Hillmick followed with a 3-run homer. Hannah Porter (So., UT, Chehalis, WA/Centralia HS) drove in the fourth run with a groundout later in the inning.

Puget Sound added a run on back-to-back doubles by Abbi Wong and Jessica Moore in the top of the fourth, but Willamette scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 11-9. Gianna Marchese (Jr., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) and Wong each hit an RBI single during the stanza.

In the bottom of the fifth, WU tied the score at 11-11. Lund walked and stole second base. Sophia Lucio (Fy., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) singled to the shortstop. Majors doubled down the right field line to drive in both runners.

The Loggers moved in front 12-11 in the sixth. Kaitlyn Webster doubled toward the left field line to open the frame. She went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Noelle Kerr and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Sullivan. WU started the bottom of the sixth with a double by Kelsey Wong, but the Bearcats did not score following a flyout to center field, a strikeout, and a flyout to shortstop. The Loggers plated four runs in the top of the seventh, with Webster driving in the final three runs on a home run to left field with two outs.

Kelsey Wong was 3 of 4 at the plate for Willamette. Hillmick went 3 of 5 and scored two runs. Lucio, Majors, and Marchese each registered two hits. Majors scored one run and hit a double. Lucio and Marchese scored two runs apiece. Shay Mott was 1 for 2 with a double and three runs scored. For Puget Sound, Webster was 3 of 4 with a homer, a double, three runs, and four RBIs. Three other Loggers each contributed three hits.

Puget Sound tallied two runs in the first inning and three runs in the third inning to build a 6-0 advantage in the first game. In the first inning, both runs scored on a single by Savanna Smith. In the third inning, one run scored on an error, while Sullivan hit an RBI single, and Moore provided a 2-run single.

The Bearcats scored a run in the fourth inning. Marykate DeLuca (So., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) opened the stanza with a walk. She went to second on a groundout by Kelsey Wong, reached third with two outs on a single to the circle by Lucio, and scored on a double steal. The Loggers scored twice in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring, as Hailee Ueyama hit a two-run double.

Smith was 3 of 4 with two RBIs for Puget Sound, and also recorded a complete game in the circle for the pitching win. Ueyama finished 3 of 5 with a run and two RBIs for the Loggers. Mott and Lucio each went 2 of 3 for the Bearcats.

Willamette is scheduled to play a four-game NWC series on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3 at Lewis & Clark College. First pitch in Portland, Oregon, is set for 2 p.m. (PDT) on Friday and for 12 p.m. on Saturday.