Willamette Ties Pacific, 6-6, in Non-Conference Baseball Game

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and Pacific University played to a 6-6 tie in 11 innings in a non-conference game ended due to impending darkness on Tuesday, April 19. Willamette trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning at John Lewis Field, but scored four runs in the sixth and led 6-3 in the seventh, before Pacific tallied three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game.

Neither team scored in the ninth, 10th or 11th.

With the tie, Willamette's record went to 18-14-1 on the season, as the Bearcats finished their nine-game homestand with a 7-1-1 record. During the homestand, the Bearcats outscored their opponents, 92-44.

The Boxers fell to 21-12-2 with their second tie of the year. Willamette won the season series between the Northwest Conference rivals, 2-1-1.

Willamette struck first with one run in the third inning. Doug Bloom (Sr., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) smacked a double to right field to open the inning. Tommy Kawamura (Fr., 2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) sacrificed Bloom to third with a bunt to the pitcher. Bloom scored on a ground out to second by Tyson Giza (So., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS).

Michael Arakaki of Pacific was hit by a pitch to start the top of the fifth inning. Greg Tellez hit an infield single. A strikeout and a fly ball to center put two outs on the scoreboard before Sam Kaplan walked to load the bases. Anson Arakaki also walked, forcing in Michael Arakaki with the tying run.

Left fielder Therone Bridges followed with a grounder that scorched its way past third and went into the left field corner for a double. Tellez and Kaplan scored, giving Pacific a 3-1 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, Giza made a diving catch in left center to prevent Justin Liu from getting a leadoff hit. Giza also made a catch in right center for the second out.

The Bearcats regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Giza singled up the middle and T.C. Lee (Sr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) doubled to right. A balk allowed Giza to score and moved Lee to third. Max Stepan (Sr., C, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS) walked, putting runners at the corners.

Tosh Semlacher (Fr., UT/DH, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) singled up the middle to drive in Lee. Semlacher went to second and Stepan scored when the ball got past Kaplan in center field. Semlacher also advanced to third on an errant relay throw to the plate.

One out later, with Semlacher still at third, pinch-hitter Alex Lavery (Fr., IF, San Jose, CA/Bellarmine Prep) hit a sacrifice fly to right center.

WU produced a run in the seventh to increase the margin to 6-3. Giza singled through the right side with two outs. He stole second and then scored when Lee's fly ball was dropped in center field. Stepan walked, but the inning ended when Semlacher grouned out to first base.

The Boxers tied the game in their next at bat. Liu and Jared Van Hoon hit back-to-back doubles to start the rally. Liu only advanced to third on Van Hoon's double, which was just out of the reach of right fielder Adam Reid (Jr., San Jose, CA/Linbrook HS). Tellez drove in Liu with a sacrifice fly to center. Van Hoon went to third on the play.

Gabriel was hit by a pitch, and then stole second with Allan Cushing at bat. The throw to second was off target and Van Hoon scored. After Cushing walked, a balk moved the runners to second and third. Kaplan hit a squeeze bunt, allowing Gabriel to cross the plate with the tying run.

Nate Rasmussen doubled for Pacific with one out in the top of the ninth. Liu walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Travis Koon. WU pitcher Parker Johnson (So., RHP, Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS), struck out Van Hoon. A double-steal put both runners in the scoring position before Tellez grounded out to shortstop.

The only hit the rest of the way was a two-out single by Lee in the bottom of the ninth.

Willamette outhit the Boxers, 9-7, and Pacific committed six errors to just one by the Bearcats. The Boxers, however, turned two double plays and hit four of the game's six doubles. Pacific walked four times and had four hit batsmen, while WU walked three times and had two batters hit by pitches.

Four Bearcats in the top six positions in the batting order when 2 for 5. They were Bloom, Giza, Lee and Semlacher. Giza scored twice, stole a base and drove in one run. Bloom, Lee and Semlacher each tallied one run, with Semlacher adding an RBI. Stepan walked three times and scored once.

Bridges went 2 for 6 with two RBIs for Pacific. He was the only Boxer with more than one hit.

The Bearcats will play a three-game Northwest Conference series at Whitworth University this weekend. Willamette and the Pirates are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday, April 22, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT), followed by one game on Saturday, April 23, also at 12 p.m.