March 16, 2008

Willamette Sweeps Pacific Lutheran, 5-1 and 5-4

Game One
Game Two

SALEM, ORE. - Willamette pitcher and designated player Nikki Franchi recorded a win and a save while going 5-for-6 at the plate, leading the Bearcats to a softball doubleheader sweep of Pacific Lutheran, 5-1 and 5-4, on Sunday at the WU Softball Field.

The pair of Northwest Conference wins improved the Bearcats to 8-2 overall, 6-2 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran fell to 10-8 overall, 8-4 in the NWC.

In the opener, Franchi threw a complete-game five-hitter with six strikeouts and two walks. PLU's only run during the game was unearned.

The Lutes' only run came in the third inning when Caitlin Brown singled up the middle to open the stanza, advanced to third on a pair of errors, and then scored on a single by Rachel Wheeler-Hoyt. Willamette escaped a potential big inning for PLU when left fielder Cirbi Anthony caught t a fly ball by Lisa Gilbert and threw out Reiten at the plate for a double play.

Reiten was the only player with more than one hit for the Lutes in the first game, as she went 2-for-4.

Willamette took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, but the Lutes chipped away at the lead by scoring an unearned run in the third stanza and another unearned tally in the fourth. In the third, Cathy Kirkevold walked, went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out by Heather Walling. Kirkevold scored when Missy Waldron reached base on a throwing error by pitcher Debra Bohren. In the fourth, pinch-runner Shelby Johnston scored on a two-out single by Kirkevold, but the Lutes left two runners on base on an inning-ending ground out.

PLU put together three hits in the top of the fifth but was unable to score. With two outs, Brown singled up the middle and Wheeler-Hoyt singled to left field. Gilbert also singled to left, but Anthony threw out Brown, who attempted to score from second on the play.

The Lutes put together a rally in the seventh inning, as PLU recorded three hits and cut the lead to one run.

Walling struck out to begin the inning, but Waldron hit an infield single and Reiten doubled to center. Brown added a bloop single that landed near the left field line and enabled Waldron to score.

Wheeler-Hoyt followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Reiten with PLU's fourth run of the game, but a strikeout with the tying run on first base ended the game.

Brown had a pair of hits to lead the Pacific Lutheran offense. Both teams recorded seven hits in the nightcap. Willamette outhit the Lutes, 15-12, during the doubleheader.

(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office.)