WU's Offense Soars in 8-5, 17-4 Sweep of Loggers

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University offense was working in top form on Sunday, April 13, as the Bearcats swept a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader from the University of Puget Sound. Willamette won the first game 8-5 and pulled away from the Loggers for a 17-4 win in the second game.

WU improved to 18-15 on the season, 14-10 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 15-16 overall, 11-13 in conference games.

In the first game, Sean Anderson (Sr., CF, Klamath Falls, OR/Klamath Union HS) hit a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning to bring home Jordan Roberts (Sr., DH/LF, Portland, OR/Grant HS) and break a 5-5 tie. Jack McGee (Jr., 3B/RHP, Hillsborough, CA/St. Ignatius HS) hit into an error by shortstop Shaun Kiriu later in the inning, allowing Anderson and Kyle Stalker (Jr., 3B, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) to score insurance runs.

Kelsey Nakata (Jr., RHP, Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) pitched all seven innings of the opener and improved to 3-1 with the win. Nakata allowed eight hits and achieved three strikeouts. UPS led 5-4 after four innings, but never scored again.

Anderson finished the game 4 for 4 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Colin Young (Sr., RF/DH, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) was 2 for 3 with an RBI, while McGee went 2 for 4 and drove in one run. WU outhit UPS, 12-8, but all 12 hits were singles.

Gregorio Beck of UPS hit the game's only homer, a three-run blast to left field in the third inning, erasing a 4-2 Willamette lead. Joe Newland of UPS was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored.

The second contest featured WU's power game on offense, as the Bearcats pounded out seven homers. Stalker hit two of the homers, giving him 20 for the season.

Anderson also blasted to balls out of the park, giving him seven homers for the year. Young and T.C. Lee (Fr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) each smacked hit ninth homer,while David Tufo (Jr., 2B/3B, San Bruno, CA/Burlingame HS) went out of the yard for the second time.

Stalker's first homer of the game gave Willamette a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the third stanza, Lee produced an RBI with a double down the left field line and was still on base when Stalker hit his second homer to center field. Anderson scored when Michael Rierson (Fr., RF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) reached base on an error, as WU's lead increased to 6-0.

UPS plated two runs in the bottom of the third, as Kiriu was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a passed ball and Joe Newland smacked a solo home run.

The Bearcats turned the game into a rout by scoring eight times in the fourth inning. Lee belted a three-run homer to left field to start the offensive outburst. Anderson immediately followed with a solo homer to left field, then Young homered to center. Max Stepan (Fr., C, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS) doubled in one run and Tufo completed the inning with a two-run homer down the left field line. Kiriu of USP earned an RBI for the Loggers in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Anderson registered the game's final homer with a three-run blast to center field in the fifth inning. It was WU's 59th home run of the season and increased the Bearcats' lead to 17-3.

Pitcher Jarrid Summers (Jr., RHP, Boise, ID/Boise HS) threw the first five innings for Willamette, as he improved to 4-2 on the season. He gave up six hits and three runs, while recording three strikeouts. Jimmy Meuel (Sr., RHP, Redwood City, CA/Palo Alto HS) pitched the sixth inning and Colin Clark (Jr. RHP, Tigard, OR/Tigard HS) threw the final inning.

On offense, Willamette registered 17 hits during the game. Lee was 3 for 4, Anderson went 3 for 5, Young finished 2 for 3, Stalker was 2 for 3 and Doug Bloom (Fr., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) added a 2-for-3 performance. Stalker, Lee and Anderson each scored three times and drove in four runs. Bloom also crossed the plate three times.

Willamette will play its final home series of the spring next weekend, when the Bearcats host nearby rival Linfield College in a pair of doubleheaders. The first two games are slated for Saturday, April 19, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The second doubleheader is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, also at 12 p.m. (PDT). Linfield leads the Northwest Conference with a 20-4 record and is 25-7 overall.