TACOMA, Wash. — Puget Sound battled until the final out, but a steady Willamette offense proved too much to overcome as the Loggers dropped a 7–3 decision early Saturday afternoon.

Standout Aislind Dail stayed hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the first inning and an RBI double in the sixth. Senior Mikayla Johnson also left the yard in the final frame, launching a solo shot over the fence in center field.

Despite the late sparks, the Loggers couldn't claw back from an early 4-1 deficit. Willamette struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first and padded their lead with a combination of aggressive baserunning and timely hitting. The Bearcats stole four bases and scored in four of the first six innings.

Pitcher Alison Madia went the distance for Puget Sound, allowing 10 hits and seven runs — five earned — while striking out two.

Puget Sound's defense struggled at times, committing three errors — two in the infield and one in right field — that led to unearned runs in the sixth inning. Still, the Loggers showed grit. Infielder Savannah Manley singled and stole third in the third inning, while Madariaga walked and swiped second in the sixth to set up Dail's RBI double.

In game two, Nyomi Estrada took the 6-7 loss in the circle for the Loggers, pitching a complete game while allowing 11 hits, six runs (five earned), and striking out eight.

Trailing 6-2 heading into the final frame, Puget Sound mounted a last-gasp surge. With two outs and a runner on second, Aislind Dail roped an RBI double to left-center. Moments later, Mikayla Johnson delivered again with a two-bagger of her own to drive in Dail. Elyssa Garcia kept the momentum going, singling home Johnson to bring the Loggers within one. But Willamette's reliever closed the door with a strikeout to preserve the win and earn the save.

Willamette tallied 11 hits and spread their offense throughout the game, scoring in five of seven innings. Mia Rogers led the way with a 3-for-4 effort and three RBIs, including a two-run single in the seventh that ultimately proved to be the difference. Emma Elliott also went 3-for-4 and added a double and a run.

Puget Sound struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Alyssa Waldo and Claire Besancon executed a double steal, Johnson lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Waldo. The Loggers added a run in the fifth on a wild sequence of passed balls, and then came the late push in the seventh.

Johnson finished 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Dail reached base three times and drove in one, while Garcia went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base off the bench.

Puget Sound finishes the weekend with two wins and two losses against Willamette. The Loggers continue conference competition next weekend, with a four-game series at Lewis & Clark.