EUGENE, Ore. – It was a tale of For Better and For Worse on Saturday as the Bushnell softball team claimed their first season-opening victory in 15 years, only to follow with the most runs surrendered in 27 years in a game-two loss.
 
GAME ONE: Bushnell 9, Willamette 1 (5 Innings)
 
Everything went right for the Beacons in the opener as they pounded out ten hits to collect a victory in a season-opener for the first time since 2011.
 
Bushnell used a five-run first inning, highlighted by a Haleigh Wambolt home run, to put the game out of reach, while Sara Martin went the distance in the circle, allowing just three hits and striking out four batters to earn the victory. Martin retired the first 11 batters that she faced with her only blemish coming from back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth that helped the Bearcats avoid the shutout.
 
The top three hitters in the lineup did the bulk of the heavy lifting for the Beacons, batting a combined 6-for-6 with six runs, and the Beacons collected six extra-base hits including three triples. Makenzie Alexander scored three times from the lead off spot in her Bushnell debut with a triple and a single while Brooklyn Lick had a strong started to her collegiate career with a double and two runs.
 
GAME TWO: Willamette 20, Bushnell 5 (5 Innings)
 
In 1999, in the first-year of the Northwest Christian College softball program, the Crusaders faced off against one of the NAIA's powerhouses, Oregon Tech, and were defeated 21-1. In a stretch of over 1000 games in the ensuing two-and-a-half decades, the team never approached that number until this afternoon in a game the Beacons will be happy to leave in the rear-view mirror.
 
The Bearcats collected 18 hits in the contest, and took advantage of four Bushnell errors, erasing a 4-0 lead that the Beacons had taken in the first inning.
 
Despite the final result, the game wasn't without any positive moments as both Alexander and Wambolt again earned two hits apiece.
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons will hit the road for Arizona for a six-game trip, beginning on Thursday against Arizona Christian at 3:30 pm. The team will also face off against Nelson University and Ottawa Arizona during the trip.