Bearcats Complete Four-Game Sweep of Puget Sound with 9-3 and 7-4 Wins

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Abigail Loomis (Fy., P/OF, Canby, OR/Canby HS) and Kenna Davis (So., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) each pitched a complete game and the Willamette University offense accumulated 25 hits, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 9-3 and 7-4, on Sunday, March 5 to complete a four-game sweep of the Loggers. The Northwest Conference sweep improved Willamette to 9-5 overall, 4-0 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 3-7 on the season, 0-4 in the NWC.

Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) recorded two hits for the Bearcats in each game. She was 4 for 7 on the day with a run and three RBIs. Faith Collar (So., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) went 3 for 3 in the first game, while scoring twice, hitting a double, and providing two RBIs. Mia Lund (Jr., UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) added a 3-for-4 performance with two runs, a walk, and an RBI. Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) was 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI in the second game, while Kendra Knapp (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) belted two doubles.

Loomis upped her pitching record to 2-0 in the opener. She struck out nine batters while allowing three runs and four hits. She walked just one batter. In Sunday's second game, Davis fanned six batters and did not have a walk. She gave up four runs -- three earned -- and nine hits, but held the Loggers to one run overall until the seventh inning. Davis moved to 5-2 on the season.

Willamette Earns 12 Hits in First Game for 9-3 Win

The Bearcats scored in each of the first six innings of Sunday's opener. Willamette recorded a total of 12 hits in the 9-3 victory.

WU built a 2-0 lead in the first two innings, as DeLuca hit a sacrifice fly to right field in the first inning and Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the second inning. The runs were scored by Lund in the first and by Collar in the second.

In the third stanza, the Bearcats plated two runs on a single by DeLuca. One inning later, Gianna Marchese (Grad., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) belted a leadoff double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sophia Lucio (So., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS), and scored on a double by Lund. WU held a 5-0 advantage.

The lead reached 7-0 in the top of the fifth. DeLuca began the inning with a walk, and Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) pinch-ran, stole second, and eventually scoring on a double by Collar with one out. Later, Collar crossed the plate on a single by Marchese.

Puget Sound scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jessica Moore reached base on an error in right field. Moore went to third on the play and all three runners scored. Collar and Elliott each hit an RBI single for Willamette in the sixth inning to complete the scoring.

Collar and Lund each topped WU with three hits during the game. The Bearcats added two hits each from DeLuca and Marchese. Jazzy Allen of PS went 2 of 3 with a run scored.

Bearcats Finish 4-0 Weekend with a 7-4 Victory

Willamette continued its success against Puget Sound with a 13-hit attack in the final game of the series for a 7-4 win. Majors' three hits led the way, while Knapp, DeLuca, and Marchese provided two hits apiece.

The Loggers took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second after Savanna Smith hit a leadoff single. Smith went to third on a two-out single by Kimora Phillips, and scored when Hailee Ueyama went to first base on an error. Willamette tied the score in the top of the third as Knapp opened the stanza with a double and later scored on a single by Collar.

WU put up two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. In the fourth, Jordyn Johnson (Jr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) singled with one out, and Alexandra Richards (So., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) was hit by a pitch. Both runners scored with two outs on Knapp's second double of the game. In the fifth, DeLuca singled and Lucio pinch-ran. Lucio went to second on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a single to right by Majors. Later, Majors stole second and scored on a single by Marchese.

The Bearcats increased the margin to 7-1 in the top of the seventh. Benny hit a leadoff single and was at third when Collar walked. Majors scored and Collar went to second on a wild pitch. Collar was eventually thrown out at home when Cora Erickson (Jr., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) reached base on a fielder's choice. Benney ran for Erickson, advanced to second on a double by Marchese, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson. Emily Moore hit a three-run homer for Puget Sound in the bottom of the inning.

Willamette is scheduled to play two games at Linfield University on Wednesday, March 8. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (PST) in McMinnville, Oregon.