Big First Inning Leads Bearcats Past Drew 10-2 in Arizona

By Charlie McGuire and Robert McKinney of Willamette Athletics Communication

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Willamette University softball team struck early against Drew University (N.J.) in its second game on Saturday, March 2, rolling to a 10-2 victory on the run rule in six innings. The Bearcats fell to Dickinson State University (N.D.), 6-4, earlier in the day.

Willamette jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning against Drew, scoring five runs with two outs. Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), who had reached on a single, put the Bearcats on the scoreboard as Brianna Majors (Gr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) doubled to center field.

Majors scored as Kendra Knapp (Gr., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) reached on an error in right field to make the score 2-0. Mia Lund (Sr., OF/UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) drove in two more runs with a single and came around to score off a double from Mia Rogers (So., 2B/SS/P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS), giving the Bearcats a 5-0 advantage over the Rangers.

Teagan Bradley put Drew on the board with a solo home run in the top of the third. Zoey Shimp batted next and reached base on an error. Shimp eventually scored Drew's second run on a double steal from third. Willamette answered with one in the bottom half of the inning. Faith Collar (Jr., UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) got aboard on a fielder's choice, stole second and later scored her second run of the game on an error.

Majors led off the fifth inning with a triple and Knapp reached on a walk. They both came in to score on a single from Lund to stretch the lead to 8-2. The Bearcats pushed across two more runs in the sixth to end the game on the eight-run rule.

Hatfield singled and stole second before scoring on a base-hit from Knapp. Knapp would come across with the game-ending run on an RBI from Lund for the final score of 10-2.

Rogers went 4-for-4 with two RBI while Lund had two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Majors finished 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, scoring twice. Hatfield added a pair of hits and two runs while Knapp plated three runs for the Bearcats.

Kenna Davis (Jr., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) earned the win, scattering six hits and recording four strikeouts. The Bearcats tallied 13 hits and five stolen bases in the win.

In Willamette's first game in Arizona, the Bearcats battled the Dickinson State Blue Hawks of the NAIA. The Bearcats fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Cassy Loa walked to open the stanza and eventually scored on a single by Dallis Mitchell.

The Bearcats batted their way into the lead with three runs on three hits, and two walks in the fourth inning. Maris Pinheiro (Fy., C/OF, Tulare, CA/Tulare Union HS) started the offense with a single to center. Majors and Harley Raymond (Jr., 1B, Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS/Columbia Basin College) walked to load the bases. Knapp hit an RBI single to right center and Hatfield followed with an RBI single to third. Cora Erickson (Sr., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) hit into a double play on a line drive to third base that ended the threat.

WU tacked on a run in the fifth inning for a 4-1 lead. With one out, Emma Elliott (So., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) reached base on an error at third. She went to third on a single by Pinheiro and scored on a double steal.

Dickinson State scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to move in front 6-4. Three walks helped the Blue Hawks. With the bases loaded, HaiLeigh Davis belted a two-run double to center. Ashlee Potter stole home for the next run, and Karissa Comer completed the scoring with a two-run single to left.

Relief pitcher Alexa Kappel picked up the win for DSU. Jordyn Johnson (Sr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) took the loss in the circle for Willamette. Pinheiro led the Bearcats on offense with two hits and a run scored in four at bats. Four other WU players registered a hit. Four Blue Hawks also earned one hit.

The Bearcats are scheduled to play two more games in Arizona on Sunday. They take on St. John Fisher before facing Drew on their second game of the day.