WWCC Softball Splits Weekend at Pasco Pre-Season Tournament
Pasco, WA - The Warrior Softball team was on the road for the first time this past weekend, making the quick trip to Pasco, WA for the NWAC Pre-Season Tournament. Walla Walla earned split results on the weekend, collecting two wins on Saturday in convincing fashion, before dropping a couple of close games on Sunday to wrap up the tournament. WWCC now sits at 7-4 overall on the season with one more weekend of action before NWAC East play opens up on March 20th.
Walla Walla 23 vs. Umpqua - 5 Innings (Saturday - Game 1)
The Warrior offense exploded for 23 runs, including a 9-run second inning, in the opening game of the weekend. Walla Walla totalled 19 hits and also reached base 11 times via the walk to overwhelm the Umpqua pitching and defense. Faith Hickman finished the game 4-4 with a home run and 5 RBI's. Juel Cavesuela, Maddy Schumacher, and Tyra Price also hit home runs in the game. Cavesuela would lead the team in RBI's with 6 in a 3-4 effort of her own. Both of Schumacher's hits were of the extra-base variety as she added a leadoff double to go with her home run in a 2-3 showing. Paige Richardson collected the win in the circle, limiting Umpqua to 2 earned runs on 4 hits while striking out 4. Anna Delarosa shut things down in relief, surrendering a lone run on 3 hits.
Walla Walla 7 vs. Highline 2 (Saturday - Game 2)
Walla Walla utilized a strong comeback effort in Saturday's second game, erasing an early 2-0 deficit before plating 5 runs in the sixth inning to run away and complete the Saturday sweep. Aisling Giguiere settled in after giving up 2 runs in the first 3 innings of play, holding Highline scoreless for their last four innings of offense. She would finish the game with just 2 earned runs in 7 innings of work, tallying 5 strikeouts. Kaydence Hector went 3-4 with 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored in the game. Juel Cavasuela totalled 4 more RBI's to finish with 10 total on the day, and Tyra Price hit a home run, her second of the day.
Walla Walla 7 vs. Edmonds 12 (Sunday - Game 1)
WWCC's Sunday slate got off to a much slower start than on Saturday, dropping the first game of the day to Edmonds with a score of 12-7. Edmonds, who currently sits at the top of the NWAC North standings at 8-1 overall, won all 4 of the games that they played in the weekend tournament.
Walla Walla 4 vs. Bellevue 6 (Sunday - Game 2)
After dropping the first game of the day to the NWAC North #1 team, the Warriors looked to rebound against Bellevue, the #2 team from the North who the Warriors had already placed twice and split games with on the season. Despite out-hitting Bellevue 10-3, Walla Walla couldn't get the big swing of the bat to put up a crooked number and ultimately lost in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kaydence Hector and Ella Sams each had 3 hits, with 2 of Sams' 3 hits being doubles. Juliana Berinobis added 2 hits of her own to cap off a 4-9 weekend.
What's next?
Walla Walla will hit the road next weekend for their final non-region games of the season. They will play a doubleheader at Clackamas on Saturday, before making the trip north to Vancouver, WA on Sunday to play at Clark. The games on both days are scheduled to get started at 11:00 AM.