Giza Belts 3-Run Homer as Bearcats Defeat Boxers, 6-1, in Non-Conference Game

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University starting pitcher Tyler Olson (Fr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) struck out seven batters in five innings, and center fielder Tyson Giza (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) blasted a three-run homer, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific University, 6-1, in a non-conference game at John Lewis Field on Tuesday, April 10.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Pacific, so the Bearcats batted first and the Boxers batted last.

Willamette improved to 9-18 on the season heading into a Northwest Conference series at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., this weekend. The Bearcats will play the Missionaries in two games on Saturday, April 14, followed by one game on Sunday April 15. Pacific dropped to 16-10 overall.

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Tosh Semlacher (So., 3B, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) opened the stanza with a single through the left side. After Semlacher stole second base, catcher Dylan Summers (Sr., Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) hit a double down the right field line to drive Semlacher across the plate.

Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) walked and eventually scored in the second inning for a 2-0 Willamette lead. Giza singled up the middle to move Kawamura to third. One out later, Tiras Koon (Fr., DH/C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) provided a sacrifice fly to center field.

WU continued to maintain a 2-0 margin until the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, Olson was completing his solid outing on the mound. With a bit of help from his defense, he forced Pacific to leave seven runners on base in the first three innings.

In the first inning, the Boxers loaded the bases with one out, but the Bearcats responded with a force out at home plate, followed by a strikeout. Pacific left two runners on base in the second inning. In the third stanza, Donnie Bradley of Pacific singled, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch -- all with no outs. Olson battled his way out of the jam with a strikeout, followed by a walk and two more strikeouts.

Pacific had just one base runner over the next two stanzas, as Olson kept the Boxers off the scoreboard. He allowed five hits and just one walk. Relief pitcher Zach Holcomb (Fr., RHP, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) held the Boxers without a hit in the sixth and seventh innings, while compiling four strikeouts.

Henry Harrison (So., LHP, Nevada City, CA/Nevada Union HS) of Willamette gave up two hits and one run during the final two innings. He also added one strikeout to the WU pitching ledger, as the Bearcats finished with 12 strikeouts during the game.

Willamette's offense tallied four runs in the seventh inning for some separation on the scoreboard.

Brandon Chinn (So., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) bunted with one out and went all the way to second on a throwing error by relief pitcher Matt Delegato. Andrew Wilson (Fr., LF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) drove in Chinn with a bloop single down the right field line, before Kawamura singled through the left side. Giza cleared the bases with his three-run homer to right field, giving WU a 6-0 lead.

Chad Fahey of Pacific doubled to start the bottom of the eighth inning. He went to third on a flyout to center field and score on a groundout to shortstop by Jordan Siu.

Giza and Semlacher each finished 2 of 4 with a run scored for the Bearcats, while Giza also led the team with three RBIs. Kawamura was 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. For Pacific, Bradley was 2 for 3 and Fahey was 2 for 4.