WU Sweeps Boxers, as Johnson Tosses 2-Hitter, Davis Earns 12 Strikeouts

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Willamette University swept a doubleheader against Pacific University, 13-0 and 6-5, on Sunday, April 28 at Sherman/Larkins Stadium. The Bearcats won the first game on the run rule in five innings. Willamette improved its record to 15-17 overall and to 11-11 in the Northwest Conference. WU is fourth in the NWC standings, two games in the loss column in front of George Fox University, which is fifth at 11-13. Pacific fell to 7-27 overall, 3-19 in the NWC.

Jordyn Johnson (Sr., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) pitched a two-hit shutout in the opener, while Kenna Davis (Jr., P/3B, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS), now 10-6, struck out 12 batters and gave up four hits in game two. Willamette had five extra-base hits in the first game, including a homer and a double by Kendra Knapp (Grad., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS). The Bearcats registered four extra-base hits in the second game, which featured a double and a triple by Emma Elliott (So., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS).

"Our hitting really came around today and we made a statement in the first two innings of the first game," Willamette Head Softball Coach Paige Hall said. "Our pitching has kept us in almost every game this year and continued to show for us today. Jordyn threw a gem in game one, and Kenna, with her 12 strikeouts, was key for us in game two. Great wins all the way around."

Bearcats Push 7 Runs Across Plate in 2nd Inning of Opener

Willamette surged out to a 9-0 lead after two innings in the first game and led 11-0 after scoring two runs in the third. The Bearcats added one run in the fourth inning and one run in the fifth on their way to the 13-0 run-rule victory.

The Bearcats scored just four batters into the game. Maris Pinheiro (Fy., C/OF, Tulare, CA/Tulare Union HS) walked, went to second on a groundout, and reached third on a single by Elliott. Brianna Majors (Grad., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) batted next and drove in Pinheiro and Elliott with a double to left field.

In the second inning, WU plated seven runs on four hits and one error. Knapp opened the stanza with a solo home run to left. Cora Erickson (Sr., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) doubled and eventually scored on a single by Pinheiro. Later, Majors walked with the bases loaded to bring home Pinheiro. A wild pitch allowed Faith Collar (Jr., UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) to score. Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) tacked on a two-run double, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lund.

Majors went to the plate in the third inning with two outs while Elliott was at second and Collar was at third. She hit into an error at first base, allowing both runners to score.

WU outhit the Boxers 11-2. Knapp went 2 for 3 with a homer, a double, and two RBIs. Hatfield was 2 for 3 with a double, a run, and two RBIs. Erickson was 2 for 3 with a run and a double, while Majors was 1 of 2 with a double and three RBIs. Elliott was 1 of 2 with three runs. Michelle Winfield and Faith Lawson were each credited with one hit for Pacific.

Elliott Blasts a Double and a Triple as WU Edges Boxers, 6-5, in Game 2

The second game featured Davis' 12 strikeouts in the circle, plus a double and a triple by Elliott at the plate. Willamette pulled away from a 2-2 tie by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning, then held on for a 6-5 win.

Majors belted an RBI double for Willamette to drive in Pinheiro in the first inning, but Chloe Knepp hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the second frame for the Boxers. An run-scoring double by Elliott in the third gave WU a 2-1 lead. Pacific tied the score with an RBI double by Knepp in the fourth.

In the fifth stanza, Elliott smacked an RBI triple to right field, as Collar scored, then Majors drove in Eliott with a single to center. Majors stole second, and then went to third when Hatfield reached first on an error at shortstop. A passed ball allowed Hatfield to go to second base. Lund pounded a double to right field to drive in both runners for a 6-2 lead.

For the Boxers in the fifth, Ashley Ballew walked, stole second, and scored on a double by Winfield. In the sixth, Knepp hit her second solo homer. Ryley Vickroy was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored when Lawson reached base on an error. WU led 6-5. Davis faced three Boxers in the seventh, as she recorded a strikeout, a groundout, and a strikeout.

Willamette will play at Linfield University on Saturday, May 4 in McMinnville, Oregon. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. PDT. The teams will complete their four-game series with a doubleheader at WU Softball Field in Salem, Oregon, starting at 11 a.m. PDT on Sunday, May 5.