2011-12 Baseball News

• Baseball
• March 31, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The Northwest Conference baseball series, between Willamette University and Pacific University, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1, has been moved to Sunday and Monday due to the significant rainfall in Salem, Ore., over the past several days.

• Baseball
• March 27, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University pounded out 15 hits and starting pitcher Tyler Olson (Fr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) allowed two runs and struck out five batters in five innings, as the Bearcats defeated Oregon Institute of Technology, 9-6, on Tuesday, March 27 at John Lewis Field. Three of Willamette's hits were by Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS), who went 3 for 3 at the plate.

• Baseball
• March 26, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and the Oregon Institute of Technology will play a 9-inning baseball game at John Lewis Field on Tuesday, March 27, starting at 2 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats and the Owls were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader hosted by Oregon Tech, but the games have been moved to Salem.

• Baseball
• March 25, 2012

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College scored one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the eighth to rally from a 2-0 deficit and defeat visiting Willamette University, 3-2, at the Huston Sports Complex on Sunday, March 25. L&C starting pitcher Michael Ball threw a complete-game seven-hitter with five strikeouts.

• Baseball
• March 24, 2012

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University's offense produced 35 runs and 35 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, March 24 at the Huston Sports Complex. The Bearcats won the first game, 10-3, and then built a 17-0 lead in the second game before winning 25-16.

• Baseball
• March 20, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The baseball make-up game between Willamette University and Corban University set for Tuesday, March 20 has been canceled. The game was initially scheduled as part of a doubleheader at Corban on Feb. 25, but wet grounds and the weather prevented the teams from playing. Baseball players on both teams were hoping to complete one of the games on Tuesday at Volcanoes Stadium, but rain has forced another cancellation.

• Baseball
• March 18, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the sixth inning to defeat George Fox University, 9-8, on Sunday, March 18 at John Lewis Field. With two outs in the ninth inning and WU trailing 8-6, Sky Kelley (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) blasted a 2-run homer to left field to tie the game. Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) batted next and smacked a solo homer to right field to score the winning run.

• Baseball
• March 17, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- George Fox University earned 18 hits in a 14-6 victory in the opener and held off a rally by Willamette University to win 5-4 in the second game, as the Bruins swept a doubleheader from the Bearcats on Saturday, March 17 at John Lewis Field.

• Baseball
• March 11, 2012

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- The third game of the baseball series between Willamette University and Linfield College on Sunday, March 11, originally listed at 1 p.m. on Willamette's schedule, will begin at 12 p.m. (PDT) at Roy Helser Field on the Linfield campus.

• Baseball
• March 11, 2012

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- In a low scoring pitchers' duel that featured only 10 hits between the two teams, three errors by Willamette University in the fifth inning led to two unearned runs for #5-ranked Linfield College. The runs broke a 2-2 tie and helped the Wildcats defeat the Bearcats, 4-2, on Sunday, March 11 in the final game of a three-game series.

• Baseball
• March 10, 2012

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University pitcher Brandon Simon (Jr., RHP, Los Angeles, CA/Pacific Hills School) threw a complete game seven-hitter to lead the Bearcats to a 4-1 victory over #5-ranked Linfield College in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10 at Roy Helser Field.

• Baseball
• March 04, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific Lutheran University hit four home runs in the first game to bounce back from 3-0 and 6-5 deficits, before pounding out 20 hits in the second game, as the Lutes swept a doubleheader from Willamette University, 9-6 and 11-4, at John Lewis Field on Sunday, March 4. The wins enabled PLU to take the weekend series two games to one after Willamette edged out a 9-8 win on Saturday.

• Baseball
• March 03, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Pacific Lutheran University, 9-8, in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, March 3 at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats rallied after trailing 7-2 in the middle of the fourth inning.

• Baseball
• March 02, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- In an effort to accommodate the weather forecast and field conditions, the Willamette University and Pacific Lutheran University baseball teams have adjusted their Northwest Conference schedule for this weekend. The Bearcats will take on the Lutes in a single game on Saturday, March 3 at 2 p.m. (PST) and the teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday, March 4, starting at 11 a.m. (PST).

• Baseball
• February 29, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The baseball teams at Willamette University and Corban University, which played two of three games originally slated for Feb. 24-25, have rescheduled the third game. The Bearcats and the Warriors will play a 9-inning game at Corban on Tuesday, March 20, starting at 4 p.m. (PST).

• Baseball
• February 27, 2012

KEIZER, ORE. -- Corban University starting pitcher Justin White gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to help the Warriors defeat Willamette University, 5-3, in a non-conference night game at Volcanoes Stadium on Monday, Feb. 27. Corban improved to 8-2, while Willamette fell to 2-8.

• Baseball
• February 26, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and Corban University will play one 9-inning baseball game on Monday, Feb. 27 at Volcanoes Stadium, starting at 5 p.m. (PST). The make-up game will allow the teams to play one of the two games canceled on Saturday, Feb. 25 due to the weather.

• Baseball
• February 25, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The baseball doubleheader between Willamette University and Corban University scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25 at John Lewis Field has been canceled due to the weather. No make-up date has been chosen, but the games may be rescheduled later in the season.

• Baseball
• February 23, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The home opener for the Willamette University baseball team at John Lewis Field against crosstown rival Corban University will start at 2 p.m. (PST) on Friday, Feb. 24, one hour earlier than originally scheduled. The Bearcats and the Warriors will play a single 9-inning game on Friday.

• Baseball
• February 20, 2012

CALDWELL, IDAHO -- The College of Idaho took advantage of errors, walks and hit batsmen to build early leads in both games, as the Coyotes swept Willamette University in a baseball doubleheader on Monday, Feb. 20 at Wolfe Field. The Yotes won the first game, 18-1, and the second game, 7-4.

• Baseball
• February 19, 2012

CALDWELL, IDAHO -- Willamette University fell to the College of Idaho in both games of a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 19, as the Coyotes edged out the Bearcats, 6-5, in the first game, before winning the second game 5-1. College of Idaho improved to 8-2 on the season. Willamette dropped to 1-5.

• Baseball
• February 16, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's four-game baseball series at the College of Idaho this weekend will start one day later than originally scheduled. The Bearcats and the Coyotes will play two games on Sunday, Feb. 19, followed by two games on Monday, Feb. 20. The series initially was set for Saturday and Sunday.

• Baseball
• February 16, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Former Willamette University baseball catcher Max Stepan (Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS), who graduated in the spring of 2011, has signed a contract to play professional baseball for the Feldkirch Cardinals in Austria. The Cardinals compete in the Baseball Bundesliga in Europe. The season is scheduled to begin at the end of March.

• Baseball
• February 12, 2012

REDDING, CALIF. -- Simpson University scored four runs in the sixth inning and five runs in the seventh to pull away from Willamette University on Sunday, Feb. 12, as the Red Hawks defeated the Bearcats, 14-7, in the final game of a four-game series. The Red Hawks held a slim 4-3 lead before putting together the two-inning outburst.

• Baseball
• February 11, 2012

REDDING, CALIF. -- Willamette University was victorious in one game and Simpson University won two games, as the Bearcats and the Red Hawks completed a lengthy day of baseball on Saturday, Feb. 11.

• Baseball
• February 10, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University baseball team is picked to finish seventh in the Northwest Conference this spring, according to votes by the league's head coaches in the 2012 NWC Baseball Preseason Poll. In most cases being picked to finish seventh in a preseason poll means your team is expected to struggle. In this case, however, it says more about the strength of the conference than about weaknesses for the Bearcats.

• Baseball
• February 10, 2012

REDDING, CALIF. -- The Willamette University and Simpson University (Calif.) baseball teams battled to a 4-4 deadlock after nine innings on Friday, Feb. 10 before the game was suspended in the top of 10th due to wet grounds. The field, which was wet at the start of the game, was in worse condition by the end of the first nine stanzas.

• Baseball
• January 25, 2012

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior right fielder Mitch Rowan (Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) has been named Honorable Mention Preseason All-America by D3baseball.com. Rowan missed all but seven games last season due to a hand injury, but hit .403 in 2010 and was a First Team Preseason All-America selection in 2011.

• Baseball
• September 30, 2011

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University baseball team defeated the Willamette Alumni, 11-5, on Sunday, Sept. 25 at John Lewis Field. The alumni put together a large squad with 22 former Bearcats participating in the event.

• Baseball
• August 15, 2011

WILLMAR, MINN. -- In a season with the Willmar Stingers contending down to the wire in the second half of the Northwoods League season, the catalyst atop the lineup has been outfielder Mitch Rowan. The Stinger leadoff hitterâ??s .315 batting average is the third-highest on the team and he trails only Sean Dwyer and Jason Leblebijian in games played. His 21 stolen bases also ranks third in the league. But unlike other top players in the league, Rowan comes from humbler beginnings. In a league full of players from top NCAA Division I programs, the Cotati, Calif., native plays his college ball at Willamette University, an NCAA Division III school. Willamette is a small private school in Salem, Ore., with a student population of about 2,600. â??A lot of people have never heard of my school (and) canâ??t pronounce it, Rowan said. â??Nobody knows where itâ??s at. Rowan said he chose Willamette to take advantage of the academics and for the opportunity to play two sports â?? heâ??s also a punter and kicker on the Bearcatsâ?? football team. He wound up in Willmar this summer after being coached by Stingersâ?? manager Matt Hollod his freshman year at Willamette. â??I knew he was a good talent, Hollod said. â??He was a little up and down (early this year) but heâ??s really turned into one of our most consistent players. In his three seasons at Willamette, Rowan has a career batting average of .362. He earned first-team All-Northwest Conference honors his sophomore year after hitting .403 with 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Stingersâ?? co-owner Ryan Voz has been impressed with what Rowan has brought to the team. â??Heâ??s a gamer. Whatâ??s fun about him is heâ??s a baseball dirtbag, Voz said. â??He plays the game hard and when he gets on base he can make things happen. Rowan came to the Stingers as a risk not only being from such a small program but also because he was coming off a major injury. He broke his thumb diving for a ball in the outfield six games into Willametteâ??s 2011 season. Rowan played in the game the next day but then missed the rest of the season. â??We didnâ??t know whether heâ??d be ready or not, Voz said. â??(But) he was here, reported on time and was starting in our outfield opening day. Hollod said there are questions when taking a player out of a small school but that Rowan has exceeded them. â??Any time you take a chance with a D-III player, youâ??re concerned with how thatâ??s going to equate with this league, Hollod said. â??Heâ??s been a pleasant surprise. Rowan said he plans to take advantage of his fifth year of eligibility to play in graduate school where heâ??ll pursue a degree in exercise science, but that heâ??d like to return to the Stingers next year. â??Iâ??d definitely like to come back, he said. â??The summerâ??s kind of flown by.