Willamette Wins 8-6 in 12 Innings to Open Doubleheader Sweep at Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Jordyn Johnson (Jr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) pitched all 12 innings and Willamette University scored two runs in the top of the 12th to open a Northwest Conference doubleheader with an 8-6 win in the fifth extra inning at Pacific University on Sunday, March 19. Willamette swept the doubleheader with a 10-6 victory in the second game.

The Bearcats went 3-1 during the four game series to improve to 13-9 on the season, 8-4 in the NWC. Pacific dropped to 4-14 overall, 2-9 in the NWC.

It was the second consecutive day of strong pitching by Johnson. On Saturday, she tossed a complete-game shutout and struck out eight batters in Willamette's 3-0 win to open the series. On Sunday, she pitched all 12 innings with eight strikeouts in the 8-6 win in the first game and pitched the final three outs of the second game.

Johnson Throws 12 Innings, DeLuca Goes 5 for 5, in Game 1

The 8-6 extra-inning win featured the offensive success of DeLuca, who went 5 for 5 at the plate and scored the go-ahead run in the 12th after starting the inning with a double. She finished with three runs scored and an RBI. Sophia Lucio (So., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) hit a double and was 4 for 6 on offense with two runs and three RBIs. Seven Bearcats earned at least one hit.

Samantha Petit was 3 for 6 with a triple and three RBIs for Pacific. Nicole Leadley, Samantha Madsen, and Chloe Knepp each earned two hits. Knepp hit a solo homer in the 11th.

Willamette achieved a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Faith Collar (So., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and went to third on a flyout by Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS). Collar scored on a single by DeLuca. An error allowed Knapp to reach base as DeLuca went third. Lund followed with an RBI single.

The Boxers tallied four runs in the second. The first run scored when Carli Zannasi walked with one out and the bases loaded. With two outs, Petit belted a three-RBI triple. WU tied the score at 4-4 in the third, as DeLuca and Knapp scored on a two-out double by Lucio. The Boxers earned a run in the fifth inning,  when Leadley doubled with two outs and crossed the plate on a single by Sydney Rusin. In the sixth, Lucio singled and eventually scored on a single by Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS).

The 5-5 deadlock remained until the top of the 11th, when Lucio singled to start the frame, stole second, went to third on a groundout, and scored when Majors reached base on an error. Knepp's homer to begin the bottom of the inning re-tied the score.

In the top of the 12th, the Bearcats scored twice on two hits and two errors. DuLuca smacked a leadoff double to right center. DeLuca went to third when Knapp's attempted sacrifice was misplayed on the throw to first. DeLuca scored and Knapp moved to second on a wild pitch. Two outs later, Julia Koorn (Jr., 1B/3B, Purmerend, Netherlands) hit into an error at third base, allowing Knapp to reach third. Lucio followed with an RBI single. Johnson forced the Boxers to hit into two groundouts and a popup in the bottom of the 12th to secure the win.

Loomis Improves to 4-1 with Pitching Win in Game 2

Abigail Loomis (Fy., P/OF, Canby, OR/Canby HS) pitched into the sixth inning of the 10-6 victory and left with an 8-4 lead. She struck out four batters and improved to 4-1.

The Bearcats pounded out 14 hits, led by Mia Lund (Jr., UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS), who was 4 of 4 with a double and one RBI. Collar finished 3 of 5 with three runs scored. Majors, Knapp, and Cora Erickson each added a single and a double. For Pacific, Rusin was 3 of 4 with a double, one run, and two RBIs.

Willamette surged out to a 5-0 lead on five hits and three errors in the top of the first inning. The scoring began with a sacrifice fly by DeLuca and continued with RBI doubles by Knapp and Erickson. Alexandra Richards (So., OF, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) tacked on a sacrifice fly and the fifth run scored on a passed ball. In the second inning, Knapp singled to right field and went to third when the ball was mishandled. Knapp scored on a single by Erickson.

Pacific posted a run in the third inning, and Willamette plated one run in the fourth and one run in the fifth for an 8-1 edge. The Boxers pulled within 8-4 by scoring three runs in the sixth. Rusin supplied an RBI double and Knepp hit a two-run homer.

In the seventh, Willamette scored two additional insurance runs for a 10-4 lead. The first was scored by Lucio on a double by Majors and the second was scored by Collar on a groundout by DeLuca. The Boxers earned two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Friday, March 24, when they host Linfield University at the WU Softball Field. First pitch for the NWC doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. (PDT).