Pacific Defeats Willamette Twice, 9-6 and 8-3

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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Pacific University produced 16 hits in the first game and took advantage of six errors by Willamette University in the second game, as the Boxers swept a twi-night doubleheader from the Bearcats, 9-6 and 8-3, on Monday, April 2 at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. Mike Nagamine was 4 of 4 with a solo homer for Pacific in the opener. Willamette allowed five unearned runs in the nightcap.

With the pair of wins, Pacific swept the three-game NWC series. The Boxers won the first game, 13-5, on Sunday at Willamette's John Lewis Field.

The final two games of the series were moved to Pacific's home field in order to allow for a later start time, with the second game played under the lights. Since the games were originally scheduled to be played at Willamette, the Bearcats batted last in both contests.

Pacific, which tops the Northwest Conference with a 10-2 record, improved to 13-9 on the season. Willamette fell to 8-18 overall, 5-10 in the NWC.

The Boxers took a quick 3-0 lead in the first game.

With one out in the opening stanza, Nick Tasaka doubled down the right field line. He moved to third on a wild pitch. After Jared Van Hoon walked and stole second, Nate Rasmussen drove in Tasaka with a single. Mike Nagamine also singled to drive in Van Hoon. Rasmussen, who went to third on the play, scored with two outs on an infield single by Anson Arakaki.

Willamette cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first. Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) hit an infield single toward shortstop with one out. Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) walked, pushing Karamura to second. With two outs, Tiras Koon (Fr., 1B/DH, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) delivered a triple to right field to bring home both runners.

Nagamine connected for a solo home run with one out in the third inning to give Pacific a 4-2 advantage.

The Boxers tacked on a run in the fourth inning when Kevin Schwartz singled, went to second on a walk issued to Tasaka, and scored on a single by Van Hoon. One out later, Nagamine was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Willamette starting pitcher T.J. Whidby (Fr., RHP, Woodinville, WA/Redmond HS) got out of the jam by striking out Michael Arakaki.

Willamette plated single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to tied the game at 5-5.

In the fourth inning, a fielding error by Van Hoon at third allowed Tosh Semlacher (So., 3B, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) to reach base. Semlacher scored with the aid of two additional errors when Michael Arakaki at shorstop misplayed a grounder by Hunter Gallant (Fr., 2B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) and then threw wildly toward first.

Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) smacked a double to center to start the fifth inning, advanced to third on a double-steal after Kawamura walked, and then scored on a groundout by Rowan. In the sixth inning, Adam Reid (Sr., RF, San Jose, CA/Linbrook HS) reached base with two outs when his third strike was a wild pitch. He advanced to third on a single by Giza and crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Pacific regained an edge by plating three runs with two outs in the seventh. Van Hoon walked, while Rasmussen and Nagamine singled, to produce the first run. Nagamine stole a base to put runners at second and third. Michael Arakaki followed with a two-run single to left field.

The Bearcats came ever so close to tying or taking the lead in the eighth, when Van Hoon relieved Pacific starting pitcher Chad Fahey.

With one out Gallant hit an infield single and Reid received a base on balls. Giza drove in Gallant with a single to left. Kawamura contributed a sacrifice bunt, sending Reid to third and Giza to second. Rowan was intentionally walked to load the bases with Pacific leading 8-6. Sky Kelley (Jr., DH/RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) grounded out to shortstop, as the Boxers retained the lead.

Nagamine singled in the ninth and scored an insurance run on a double by Michael Arakaki to complete the scoring. Nagamine, in addition to going 4 for 4, scored three runs and earned three RBIs. Michael Arakaki was 2 for 5 with three RBIs, while Schwartz, Rasmussen and Donnie Bradley added two hits apiece.

Giza paced Willamette by going 4 for 5 with a run, a double and an RBI. Gallant was 2 for 5 with a double and also scored one run. Koon earned a triple, a walk and two RBIs.

Fahey upped his record to 4-1. He struck out 10 batters, gave up six hits and allowed three walks. WU relief pitcher Blake Paisley (Sr., RHP, Saratoga, CA/Saratoga HS) dropped to 0-1 with the loss. Whidby went 4 2/3 innings as WU's starter, with seven strikeouts and three walks, but gave up 10 hits and five runs.

The second game was scoreless after two innings. One error by the Bearcats in the third stanza and four errors by Willamette in the fourth inning led to five unearned runs, as Pacific claimed a 7-0 lead.

In the third, the Boxers added base hits by Bradley, Tasaka and Fahey to take advantage of the error and plate three runs. In the fourth, Tasaka's single was the only hit, as the four errors helped the Boxers score four runs. All five errors in the two innings were on the infield.

Rasmussen doubled in the fifth and eventually scored, as the Boxers increased the lead to 8-0.

WU placed two runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, when Rowan blasted a two-run homer to right field. It was his seventh homer of the season, tying him with teammate Sky Kelley and Tyler Pfeffer of Whitworth University for the NWC lead. Giza, who singled and stole second, scored on the play.

In the top of the eighth, Willamette recorded its sixth error, a dropped fly ball at third base. Despite the error, the Bearcats got out of the inning without allowing a run.

Kawamura singled for WU in the bottom of the eighth inning and eventually reached home on a single by Summers. Kawamura was 3 for 5 during the game. Five other Bearcats each registered one base hit, as Willamette outhit Pacific, 8-6. For the Boxers, Tasaka went 2 for 5 with two runs and an RBI, while Rasmussen finished 2 for 2 with a run and two walks.

Mike McGuire, who started on the mound for Pacific, improved to 2-1. He struck out seven batters in six innings, while giving up four hits, one walk and two runs.

Willamette starter Peter Hoffman (Fr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) threw five innings and allowed five hits. He was credited with eight runs, but only three were earned. Hoffman (1-4) struck out four batters and walked two. Relief pitchers Tyler Olson (Fr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) and Blake Evetts (Fr., RHP, Tigard, OR/Jesuit HS) each pitched two scoreless innings for the Bearcats.

The next game for Willamette is set for Wednesday, April 4 at crosstown rival Corban University. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).