NWC Softball: Bearcat Pitching Stymies Bruins for Twinbill Sweep

The nightcap went only five innings because of the college eight-run rule after five.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - Collecting only three hits in each game, the George Fox University Bruins could not muster enough offense and dropped a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader 7-0 and 9-1 to the Willamette University Bearcats Sunday afternoon at the WU softball field.

In the opener, Nikki Morrison had two of the three hits allowed by Willamette starter Nikki Franchi (4-2) in her six innings of work.

The Bearcat ace fanned 12 and walked only one, and was followed in the 7th inning by Casey Clark, who struck out three despite allowing two runners on a hit batsman and an error.

The Bearcats got all the runs they would need in the bottom of the 1st when Elizabeth Gilgan led off with her first home run of the season off George Fox starter Kayla Winkler (3-6).

The Bearcats added another run later in the inning when Franchi doubled to score LaShawna Holcomb, who had walked and stolen second.

The Bearcats added another run in the 4th when Franchi doubled, stole third, and scored on an error, then salted the game away with a four-run 6th.

Cirbi Anthony, Marianne Ward, and Nicole Wallace had RBI singles in the rally, and Holcomb pushed across a run when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Winkler went the distance for the Bruins, allowing nine hits while walking three and striking out five, raising her league-leading strikeout total to 76 for the season.

The nightcap went only five innings because of the college eight-run rule after five.

Willamette took a 1-0 lead in the 1st as Gilgan singled, swiped second and third, and came in on a single by Molly Barnes, but the Bruins tied it in the 2nd when Haley Harnish-Stadden tripled and scored as Meagen McCleery was thrown out at first on a line drive to right field.

The Bearcats broke the game open in the 2nd with a five-run rally.

Gilgan and Holcomb had RBI singles, Wallace drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt, one run scored on a fielder’s choice, and another came in on a wild pitch.

Marissa Richards doubled and scored on Anthony’s single in the 3rd, and the Bearcats added two more in the 4th with three hits and the aid of two Bruin errors.

Leighann Auer (4-1) got the win for Willamette, working 4.1 innings and allowing three hits with three strikeouts and a walk, and Clark finished up.

Torey Weatherman (1-4) started and took the loss for the Bruins, surrendering four hits and five runs in one-plus inning before giving way to McCleery, who went the final three innings.

George Fox (5-13, NWC 3-7) visits league-leading Whitworth College next Saturday and Sunday for doubleheaders starting at noon both days.

Willamette (9-4, NWC 3-3), ranked 5th in the NCAA Division III poll, visits Northwest Christian College Tuesday for a 12 noon twinbill.

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