By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins drew with Willamette on Saturday, but their win in game one was accomplished with flair. Powered by Annie Veatch's two home runs, including an eighth-inning walkoff, the Bruins overcame a 7-2 deficit to win, 9-7. Then, in the second game, Willamette held the Bruins to five hits and went on to win, 7-2.

Recap:

Game One
In a season punctuated by heroics, Saturday's opener was especially dramatic. Even with Abbie Bergerson on the rubber, the Bruins fell behind early, as Willamette got two in the first on Alex Shields's homer and single runs in the third and the fourth. Alyssa Harris, who relieved Bergerson in the fourth, did well not to allow more runs and stranded the bases loaded, but the Bruins faced a 4-0 hole.

Annie Veatch hit her second-most-important homer in the fourth to get the Bruins on the board, scoring herself and Amanda Woods. The Bruins seemed back in the game, but the Bearcats grabbed another single run in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-2.

Then, in the sixth, Willamette logged two more runs on an RBI single from Danielle Saunders and an error. Entering the sixth, the Bruins were down 7-2.

But in the sixth the Bruins surged. With two outs and Woods on second, Ashley Bunce reached on a costly error, and Alex Parker walked to load the bases. Rebecca Pridmore clobbered a double to right, scoring Woods and Bunce, and Kimi Ito followed with a two-RBI single. After Kat Hylton singled to extend the inning, Kayla Anderson joined in with an RBI single, tying the game at 7-7.

The game entered extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Anderson singled to center. Then Veatch, batting with two outs, blasted her second two-run homer of the day, this one a walkoff, giving the Bruins a 9-7 comeback win.

Game Two
The Bruins were unable to mount a comeback in the second game, despite starting the game better at the plate. Willamette again got two runs in the first on a homer, this one from Ashley Pender, but the Bruins got two of their own in the bottom of the first on a home run from Amanda Woods and an Annie Veatch sacrifice fly.

But the Bearcats pushed a run across in the third on an error to take a 3-2 lead. Then, in the fifth, Pender caught hold of another delivery from Madison Sorensen and homered again, driving in two. In the sixth, Katie Hammitt banged out the Bearcats's third homer of the game, this one a solo shot; Alexia Pratt stole home later in the inning, and the Bearcats took a 7-2 win.

Top Performers:

Game One
Veatch stole the show, going 2-5 with two dramatic homers, including the walkoff. Ito and Anderson were both 2-5 as well. Ito drove in two runs, and Anderson knocked in one. Madison Sorensen took the win in relief.

Game Two
Kayla Anderson finished 2-3. Woods was 1-3 with her homer; Veatch had the Bruins's other RBI.

What It Means:
The Bruins hold a 22-12 record overall; their conference mark is 12-10.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins complete their four-game series with Willamette with two games tomorrow.