George Fox Edges Bearcats in Softball Doubleheader, 4-3 and 7-6

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Brianna Majors (So., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) went 2 of 3 with an RBI for Willamette University in the first game and teammate Sophia Lucio (Fy., OF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) was 4 for 4 with a run scored in the second game, but George Fox University defeated the Bearcats in both games of a doubleheader, 4-3 and 7-6, at the WU Softball Field on Saturday, April 17. GFU moved its record to 19-7 on the season, 15-3 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 3-21 overall, 2-16 in the NWC.

The Bearcats provided two great battles for the Bruins, who are tied with Linfield University at the top of the NWC standings. Willamette held a 3-1 lead after five innings in the opener and the Bearcats were in front 6-5 after six innings in the second game. The Bruins were forced to rally in both games. The teams will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 18, starting at 11 a.m. (PDT).

George Fox took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the first inning of the opener. With two outs and Kamryn Potter at first base, Claire Fountain singled through the left side. The ball was misplayed in left field, which allowed Potter to score.

Neither team scored again until the Bearcats tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Marley Nicassio (Sr./Jr., UT, Sacramento, CA/Mira Loma HS/Holy Names Univ.) walked. Kyrstin Calleja (Fy., OF, Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert HS) pinch-ran for Nicassio. Marykate DeLuca (So., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) singled through the right side, and then Mia Lund (Fy., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) belted a double to left field, as Calleja crossed the plate to tie the score.

A fielder's choice led to Adele Benny (So., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) reaching first and second base while Lund went to third, but Deluca was thrown out on the play in a run-down between third and home. Majors drove in Lund with a single to right, and Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS) brought home Benny with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Bruins tied the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. With one out, Savannah Vargas walked. Fountain batted next and struck out. Katie Ladd went to the plate and was down 0-2 in the count when she took an off-speed pitch that just missed the outside corner. On the ensuing pitch, Ladd belted a two-run homer to left field.

GFU pulled ahead in the top of the seventh. Victoria Richter began the stanza with a solo home run to center. Emma Classen followed with a double to right field, but was left on base after WU recorded three consecutive outs. In the bottom of the seventh, pitcher Ashley Davis of George Fox faced just three batters, as she forced the Bearcats into a groundout, a pop-up, and another groundout.

Davis improved to 10-3 with the run. She gave up six hits and three runs, while striking out eight batters and allowing one walk. Mott took the loss for WU, despite striking out six batters. She allowed seven hits, one walk, and four runs -- three earned. Mott's 2-for-3 effort led the Bearcats. Lund, Mott, DeLuca, and Kendra Knapp (So., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) each contributed one hit. Richter was 2 of 3 for the Bruins.

In the second game, GFU built a 4-0 lead with two runs in the first inning and one run in each of the next two stanzas. In the first inning, Vargas hit an RBI double and later scored on a single by Fountain. Richter reached base on an error at second in the second inning and eventually scored on a single by Kimberly Pulido. In the third, Vargas connected for a leadoff double and later crossed the plate on a single by Ladd.

Shaye Mott (So., P/1B, Livermore, CA/Granada HS)

The Bearcats scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, when Gianna Marchese (Jr., 3B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) singled with one out, went to second and third when a single by Kelsey Wong (Jr., UT, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) was misplayed in center field, and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Knapp. WU tacked on three runs in the fifth ining to tie the game at 4-4. All three runs scored on a bases-loaded double through the right side by Majors.

GFU took a 5-4 advantage in the top of the sixth with a leadoff homer by Richter. Willamette scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Knapp singled and later scored on a double by Lund. The Bearcats regained the lead at 6-5 when Mott received a walk with the bases loaded to bring home Cora Erickson (Fy., Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS).

Potter was hit by a pitch to open the top of the seventh inning. Two outs later, she reached second base on a wild pitch. Ladd hit a double to center field to drive in Potter and tie the game. Ladd scored when Richter followed with a single up the middle. WU sent just three batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

Lucio's four hits led the Bearcats, as WU outhit GFU, 11-10, in the second game. Lund was 2 of 4 with a double, a run scored, and one RBI. Majors contributed three RBIs with her bases-clearing double. Vargas topped the Bruins by going 3 of 4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI. Richter was 2 of 4 with a home run, while Ladd finished 2 of 4 with a double.

Relievers for both teams received the pitching decisions in Game 2. Emma Eastman garnered the win for GFU. Mott was credited with the loss. WU starter Sarah Smith (So., P, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) tossed six innings, while GFU starter Sarah Storton went five innings.