The 2007 Pioneers were a resilient team. Despite some disheartening losses, the team continued to battle and stay in games against very tough opponents. The truest display of this team’s fortitude came on April 6 in a doubleheader against #25 Willamette. The Pioneers, trailing by a dozen runs and being three-outs away from succumbing to the eight-run rule, plated eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game alive. After ultimately falling in that game, the Pioneers shook off the disappointment and rallied behind a tremendous pitching performance by Janet Freerks (senior, Pleasant Hill, Ore.) to defeated the nationally-ranked team by a score of 3-2.

Freerks led the team in ERA and strikeouts, posting a respectable 3.64 ERA and 67 strikeouts in her final season in the circle at the Huston Sports Complex. Short stop Cristy Hatton (sophomore, Tigard, Ore.) led the offensive charge for the Pioneers, hitting .324 for the season. The Pioneers had a pair of talented newcomers who contributed to the team’s offense. Right fielder Jessica Mullins (freshman, Randle, Wash.) brought something to the team that the Pioneers have not seen in years: power. Mullins set the single-season home run mark, hitting five round-trippers in her rookie season. She was among the Northwest Conference leaders in that statistical category as well. Megan Aucutt (freshman, Bellingham, Wash.) was the most-versatile Pioneer. Aucutt doubled as a left-fielder and starting pitcher. She also contributed at the plate as the Pioneers’ second-leading hitter.

The team finished the season with a 4-34 record and a 2-26 Northwest Conference mark.