GAME ONE

GAME TWO

PORTLAND, Ore. – In its first home game with clear, sunny skies, the Lewis & Clark softball team played two hard fought seven-inning games against Willamette, the #10 ranked Division III program in the country. The Bearcats edged out the Pioneers 5-1 in the first game, before fighting their way to a 6-0 win in game two.

The Bearcats jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with their No. 2 batter coming around to score. The Pioneers nearly tied things up in the bottom of the inning, putting two runners on base before Willamette buckled down to retire the next three batters.

Two more runs came across the plate for Willamette in the top of the third, courtesy of a triple from Mica Romero. The Bearcats collected another run in the next inning with a solo home run from Marissa Richards, after she sent the ball over the center field wall. The final Bearcat run came in the top of the seventh, putting them up 5-0.

The Pioneers put in their best effort to tie the game up in the bottom of the seventh, starting with a home run from senior Laura Parker. With one out, Parker walked up to the plate and sat back until the Willamette pitcher laid one down the middle of the plate, allowing Parker to take the pitch over the fence in left field. Parker's home run was followed by a single from Michaela Satter, but the Bearcats would prevent the rest of the Pioneers from getting on base.

Game two started as a battle of defenses with both teams being held scoreless through the first two innings. Caroline DeVincenzi nearly put the Pioneers up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, reaching base on a single to right field before advancing to second on a steal.

The Bearcats however, did manage to put a run on the board in the third inning of action, with Cirbi Anthony coming around to score. The two teams would experience another scoreless inning and a half following the Willamette run.

The top of the fifth inning proved to be the game changing inning, with Willamette putting up five unanswered runs. The Pioneers would never be able to chip away at the Bearcat lead, but not for a lack of trying as the team outhit Willamette 8-5.

The Pioneers return to action on Sunday, April 5 as they host Northwest Conference leaders Linfield in a doubleheader. The game is set for 12 p.m. at the Houston Sports Complex.