The Bearcat softball team has made a late-season push to put themselves in position to make it to the Northwest Conference tournament for the first time since 2014. After hovering around seventh place through the halfway mark of conference play, they managed to win nine consecutive games to seize that fourth and final spot going into the last series of the regular season.
Their streak included three commanding five-inning mercy rule games. Four of these games were offensive masterclasses, with the Bearcats putting up more than 10 runs in each and even 16 runs against Pacific.
While the recent victories have not come against the best of the best in the conference, this many wins in a row could cause a huge build in momentum from the offense, defense and pitching staff.
Kenna Davis (‘25), pitcher for the Bearcats, spoke on the team's newly found success, giving credit to the offense's recent consistency throughout the lineup. “Our offensive unit really started to become a unit instead of just individual hitters being very consistent.” This late offensive spark has added to a defense that has been solid all year. “Our defense has been stellar all year. It has kept us in so many games.” The squad has put up an impressive conference fielding percentage at .958.
After a tough series against Pacific Lutheran, the ‘Cats have been firing on all cylinders at the right time of the year. Beating the juggernaut that is Linfield softball (36-0) this weekend would essentially clinch them a spot in the playoffs. However, if that does not happen, the ‘Cats can still earn a tournament berth.
There is a chance that Willamette, George Fox and Whitworth will be tied for fourth place at the end of this weekend. If the Pios can hold George Fox to one win, and Pacific takes a game from Whitworth, then the Bearcats will automatically take a playoff spot even if they are swept by Linfield. It seems Bearcat fans will have simultaneous softball games on the TV this weekend in a rare instance of support for Lewis & Clark and Pacific.