Willamette Softball Falls to St. John Fisher and Drew in Arizona

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Willamette University softball team completed its four-game trip to the Southwestern U.S. with a pair of games on Sunday, March 3. The Bearcats fell to St. John Fisher University (N.Y.), 5-0, and lost to Drew University (N.J.), 9-2, on Sunday. Willamette split its first two games of the weekend on Saturday, March 2, as the Bearcats fell to Dickinson State University (N.D.), 6-4, before rolling past Drew, 10-2 on the run rule in six innings.

In the second game on Sunday, Drew held a 10-7 lead in total hits and the Rangers' Olivia Magliacano connected on a double for the game's only extra-base hit. The Rangers overcame the relatively close overall stats to score five runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth stanza.

Willamette moved in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Sophia Lucio (So., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) singled to left field.

Lucio stole second base, and then Emma Elliott (So., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) was hit by a pitch. One out later, Mia Rogers (So., 2B/SS/P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) also was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lucio scored when Faith Collar (Jr., UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) walked. A strikeout ended the threat.

In the second inning, Drew earned three hits and took advantage of two passed balls, a wild pitch, and a hit batter. The five-run effort included and RBI single by Mackenzie Pisani and two runs on Magliacano's double, as Drew took a 5-1 lead.

The Rangers registered three hits and benefited from an error, a walk, and a wild pitch in the fourth frame to plate four runs. Josie Di Troia hit an RBI single to center field to lead the way. Also earning singles in the fourth inning were Magliacano and Destiny Medina.

During the game for Willamette, Maris Pinheiro (Fy., C/OF, Tulare, CA/Tulare Union HS) was 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI, while Lucio finished 2 of 4 with a run scored. Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), Rogers, and Collar each contributed one hit.

Medina topped the Rangers by going 3 for 4 with a run scored. Di Troia and Mackenzie Pisani each went 2 of 4 with a run and an RBI. Magliacano was 2 of 4 with two runs, her double, and one RBI.

WU starter Abigail Loomis (So., P/OF, Canby, OR/Canby HS) pitched the first five innings. She allowed nine runs on eight hits, but only five runs were earned. She struck out four batters and allowed three walks. Relief pitcher Kenna Davis (Jr., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) allowed two hits and no runs in two innings, while recording one strikeout.

Allie Porbansky of Drew tossed all seven innings. She gave up seven hits and two walks, while hitting four batters. She also registered three strikeouts.

The Bearcats began the day against St. John Fisher's starting pitcher, Ainsley Evanetski, who threw a complete-game shutout while allowing just one run and two walks. She struck out nine batters in the 5-0 win for the Cardinals. Davis, who pitched for the Bearcats also struck out nine batters, but St. John Fisher earned seven hits, including two home runs.

In the top of the first stanza, Pinheiro of Willamette walked and soon reached second base on a sacrifice bunt by Hatfield. Evanetski got out of the inning by recording back-to-back strikeouts.

St. John Fisher grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Evanetski hit a solo home run. The Cardinals increased the margin to 3-0 in the fifth inning, starting with a solo homer by Emily McManus to open the frame. Evanetski, who followed McManus with a single, later scored on an error. In the sixth inning, RBI singles by Amalia DeMartino and Kelly Cournoyer drove in the final runs for St. John Fisher.

Kendra Knapp (Sr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) earned a single for Willamette's lone hit. Evanetski was 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs, a homer, and one RBI for the Cardinals. Five SJFU players each registered one hit.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, March 9, when the Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play with a doubleheader at Lewis & Clark College. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. PST in Portland, Oregon. The Bearcats and the Pioneers will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader in Portland on Sunday, March 10, starting at 11 a.m. PDT.