Willamette Loses to Fifth-Ranked Linfield in Pitchers' Duel, 4-2

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

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.

Zach Mosley, who started on the mound for Linfield, earned five strikeouts and walked four batters in 4 2/3 innings. Three relievers for the Wildcats combined for two more strikeouts and one additional walk.

WU starter Peter Hoffman (Fr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) struck out four batters and gave up four walks in seven innings. Bearcat reliever Blake Paisley (Sr., RHP, Saratoga, CA/Saratoga HS) threw one inning, allowed no runs and allowed one walk.

The Wildcats improved to 9-4 on the season, 6-3 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 4-12 overall, 2-4 in the NWC.

Mosley held Willamette without a hit during the first four innings. Meanwhile, Linfield scored one run in the second inning and one run in the

Kyle Chamberlain singled for the Wildcats with one out in the second. Nate McClellan added a base hit through the left side, and Kevin Allen walked to load the bases. Kenny Johnson drove in Chamberlain with a sacrifice fly to center field. Hoffman struck out Danny Urness to end the inning.

Tim Wilson, who went 3 for 4 on the day, singled to center field to start the bottom of the third. He stole second, went to third on a short sacrifice bunt by Ryan Larson and scored when Zach Boskovich reached first on an error.

WU second baseman Hunter Gallant (Fr., 2B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) hauled in a line drive by Kramer Lindell and threw the ball to Tiras Koon (Fr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) to double off Boskovich and end the inning.

The Bearcats tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, catcher Dylan Summers (Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) was hit by a pitch. One out later, Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS singled to right field. Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) walked to fill the bases. Sky Kelley (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) brought home two runs with a double to left field.

Linfield took advantage of three WU errors in the bottom of the inning to take the lead without recording a hit.

Urness grounded out to start the inning, but Wilson reached base on an error by Gallant at second. After Larson struck out, Boskovich was hit by a pitch. Kramer Lindell hit into a two-base throwing error by Kawamura at shortstop. Wilson and Boskovich scored on the play.

Chamberlain reached base on an error by third baseman Tosh Semlacher (So., Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS), but Lindell had to stop at third. McClellan was struck out by Hoffman to end the stanza.

Willamette's best opportunity to rally came in the top of the sixth. After Semlacher earned a hit and Gallant walked, an attempted sacrifice bunt by Andrew Wilson (Fr., OF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) resulted in the catcher throwing out Semlacher at third.

Summers lined out to center field and Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) loaded the bases with an infield hit between third and shortstop. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kawamura flied out to left field, with Boskovich catching the ball several feet in front of the warning track.

Wilson's three hits led the Wildcats, while Chamberlain and McClellan added one hit apiece. A leadoff double by Wilson was Linfield's only extra-base hit.

Semlacher topped Willamette's offense with a 2-for-4 performance. Kelly's two-run double in the fifth inning was WU's only hit for more than one base. Giza and Kawamura each hit one single.

The Bearcats will host George Fox University in an NWC series next weekend. The Bearcats and Bruins are scheduled to play two games on Saturday, March 17 at 12 p.m. (PDT), followed by one game on Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m.