SALEM, Ore. - - The University of Puget Sound softball team dropped both games of a Northwest Conference doubleheader against Willamette University on Sunday.
How it Happened
Game 1
The day started with Willamette striking first in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff walk, the Bearcats drove a double to right center, scoring the opening run.
Puget Sound responded with an offensive surge in the 2nd inning, batting through the lineup to put up five runs. Alyssa Figueroa reached on a walk and advanced on a series of Bearcat errors. Rylie Madariaga then reached on an error at third, allowing Figueroa to cross the plate and tie the game.
With the bases loaded, Lauren Perryman showed patience, drawing a walk to force in Kylie Tanimura.
Madariaga kept the pressure on, scoring on a wild pitch to extend the lead. Jazzy Allen stepped up with runners on and delivered a clutch 2-RBI single to center, scoring Perryman and Elyssa Garcia. Nyomi Estrada kept the line moving with a sharp single to right, driving in Alyssa Waldo for the fifth run of the frame.
Willamette didn't blink, immediately answering in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-out rally. A 2-RBI double and an RBI single quickly cut the Logger lead by two.
The game turned into a pitcher's duel through the middle. Perryman found her rhythm in the circle, keeping the Bearcats quiet through the 3rd, 4th, and 6th innings. The Loggers threatened in the 3rd after a pinch hit-double, but couldn't find the run. Willamette managed one run in the 5th to bring the game within a single point.
With the Loggers just three outs away from a win, the Bearcats produced a run in the bottom of the 7th. Following a stolen base and an error, the Bearcats grounded out to the pitcher, but it was enough to bring home the tying run and send the game into extras.
The Loggers went down in order in the top of the 8th, unable to move the tie-breaker runner. In the bottom half, Willamette capitalized. Despite Perryman's 128-pitch effort the Bearcats found the gap for the walk-off hit, ending the game 7-6.
Game 2
The Loggers struck first in the top of the first inning. Figueroa delivered an RBI single that brought home Rylie Madariaga to give Puget Sound an early 1-0 lead. Willamette answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game 1-1 on a Logger fielding error. The Bearcats then took control in the middle innings.
The Bearcats added another in the fourth, doubling down the right field line to score, pushing their lead 4-1.
Puget Sound responded in the fifth inning. Waldo grounded out to shortstop but drove in Brenna Flannery to cut the deficit 4-2. Later in the inning, Madariaga added an RBI single to score Kirstyn Scott and bring the Loggers within one run at 4-3.
The Bearcats added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single, extending the lead to 5-3. Willamette held on from there to secure the game 2 victory.
The Loggers finished with timely offense early and late but were unable to overcome Willamette's middle-inning surge.
What Happens Next
Logger Softball returns to action this weekend for a four-game Northwest Conference Series against Pacific University. The series begins Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 PM.
Due to renovations at Puget Sound's home field, the games will be played at Gig Harbor High School.
