Pirates Defeat Bearcats 6-5 in Both Games of Doubleheader

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

LEWISTON, IDAHO -- Whitworth University edged Willamette University 6-5 in both games of a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader on Monday, March 31. Whitworth improved to 11-15 overall, 10-10 in the NWC, while Willamette fell to 11-14 overall, 7-9 in the NWC.

The Bearcats outscored the Pirates 24-22 during the four-game series, but Whitworth won three of the fourth games by a single run. After Willamette won the first game of the series, 9-4, the Pirates took three games in a row by identical 6-5 scores.

Willamette's series with the Pirates was originally scheduled to be played on the Whitworth campus in Spokane, Wash., on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29. Snow on the ground in Spokane forced the series to start one day late, with the first two games played in Kennewick, Wash., and the final two games played in Lewiston, Idaho.

In Monday's first game, Whitworth built a 6-1 lead, including four runs in the fourth inning, then held on as the Bearcats scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Colin Young (Sr., DH, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and T.C. Lee (Fr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) each singled in a run in the sixth inning. Young also drove in Willamette's final two runs with a single in the seventh. The Bearcats left the tying run at second base.

Whitworth scored three unearned runs in the Pirates' four-run fourth inning, as the Bearcats committed two errors. Mitch Nelson doubled to start the inning and later scored from third base on an error. Dan Belet added an RBI double for the Pirates. The third run scored on a sacrifice fly and the fourth crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

For Willamette during the first game, Young was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and scored once. Sean Anderson (Sr., CF, Klamath Falls, OR/Klamath Union HS) was 1 for 2 with two runs and two walks.

All six Willamette hits were singles. Whitworth had seven hits, including the doubles by Nelson and Belet, plus a solo home run by Dan Ramsey. Matt Monahan was 3 for 3 for Whitworth with a run and an RBI.

Ryan Snell pitched all seven innings for Whitworth. He allowed six hits and three walks, while striking out five batters. He improved to 1-4 on the season.

Tye Sundlee (Sr., RHP, Yakima, WA/West Valley HS) went 3 1/3 innings for Willamette, before giving way to Jimmy Meuel (Sr., RHP, Redwood City, CA/Palo Alto HS) for the final 2 2/3 innings. Sundlee gave up all six runs and fell to 1-5 on the season. Meuel gave up one hit and registered one strikeout.

In the second game, the Pirates rallied from a 5-0 deficit by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth inning and tallying four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Billy Rigsby drove in both runs in the sixth with a double. In the seventh, Jon Whiteside hit an RBI double, while Chad Flett, Rigsby and Scott Ward each brought in another run with a single. Flett scored the game-winning run on the single by Ward with two outs.

Anderson tripled and scored a run for Willamette in the fourth inning, after the Bearcats recorded the game's first four runs in the third stanza. Michael Rierson (Fr., RF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) earned two RBIs with a double in the third, while the other two runs scored on a single by Young and a sacrifice fly by Jack McGee (Jr., 3B/P, Hillsborough, CA/St. Ignatius HS).

The Bearcats outhit Whitworth, 10-8, during the game. Jordan Roberts (Sr., LF, Portland, OR/Grant HS) was 3 for 3 and scored twice. Young and David Tufo (Jr., 2B/3B, San Bruno, CA/Burlingame HS) each went 2 for 3, as Young finished the day 4 for 7 with four RBIs.

Whiteside was 2 of 4 for Whitworth with two runs and an RBI. Rigsby went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs for the Pirates.

Jarrid Summers (Jr., RHP, Boise, ID/Boise HS) started on the mound for Willamette and allowed no runs and just one hit during the first five innings. In the sixth, he gave up two runs and two hits. Meuel replaced Summers after Monahan walked to open the bottom of the seventh.

Meuel (0-1) was charged with the final three runs and received the loss. Whitworth reliever Jason Weatherman (1-0) tossed the final three innings and held the Bearcats to no runs and two hits to pick up the win.

Willamette returns home to Salem, Ore., to host Whitman College in a four-game NWC series on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. The teams with play two nine-inning games on Saturday and two seven-inning games on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT) each day.