Bearcats Win Second Game with Whitman, 6-3, Split Doubleheader

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Mitch Rowan (Sr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) and Dylan Summers (Sr., DH/C, Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) each drove in a run with a double in the sixth inning, and Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) hit a two-run single in the seventh, helping Willamette University defeat Whitman College, 6-3, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 14 at Borleske Stadium.

The win allowed the Bearcats to split the doubleheader with the Missionaries, after Whitman won the first game, 4-2. The teams will complete the three-game Northwest Conference series with one game on Sunday, April 15, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT)

Willamette completed the twinbill on Saturday with a 10-19 overall record, including 6-11 in the NWC. Whitman finished the day at 5-27 overall, 5-15 in the NWC.

In the first game, Justin Weeks of Whitman struck out four batters and allowed just seven hits in seven innings to register the 4-2 win. Kyle Moyes hit two home runs for the Missionaries and went 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs during the game. Jimmy Madden also homered for Whitman. Tiras Koon (Fr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) hit a triple for the Bearcats, who outhit Whitman, 8-7.

Whitman moved in front 1-0 on a leadoff homer by Moyes in the bottom of the second inning.

Willamette equalized in the top of the fourth after Dylan Summers (Sr., DH/C, Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) and Tosh Semlacher (So., 3B, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) began the inning by reaching base on back-to-back errors. Summers, who wound up at third, scored on a throw to second a short time later when Semlacher was caught attempting to steal.

Hunter Gallant (Fr., 2B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) kept the stanza going with a double to left field, but two more outs ended the threat.

Madden put Whitman back on top 2-1 with a solo homer to start the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bearcats tied the score for the second time in the top of the sixth, as Koon belted his triple and scored on a single by Summers.

Moyes blasted a two-run homer to left center for the Missionaries with one out in the seventh inning to create a 4-2 advantage for Whitman. Peter Valentine, who batted immediately prior to Moyer and was hit by a pitch, also scored on the play.

Summers doubled to open the top of the ninth inning, as the Bearcats pushed the tying run into the batter's box, but Whitman relief pitcher Brett Lambert forced three consecutive outs to end the game.

For Willamette, Summers was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI in the opener. Gallant also went 2 for 4.

In the second game, the Bearcats attained a 9-6 advantage in hits on their way to splitting the doubleheader. Two of the hits were recorded in the second inning, as WU took a 1-0 lead.

With one out, Koon walked and Gallant doubled to left field. Ben Petersen (Jr., C, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS/Butte College) drove in Koon with a single to left field. Gallant also tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate. Whitman starter Will Thompson registered a strikeout to conclude the inning.

The Missionaries surged in front in the bottom of the third. Kyle Buckham, who singled, and Cameron Young, who walked, both scored on a double to left center by Valentine.

Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) smacked a triple to center field for the Bearcats to open the sixth inning. One out later, Rowan brought home Kawamura with a double down the right field line and Summers drove in Rowan with a double to right center. Spencer Hobson went to the mound for Whitman and quickly ended the inning with a fly out and a groundout.

Giza's two-run single in the seventh added insurance to a slim 3-2 lead, as the Bearcats gained control of the contest. The key hit by Giza came with two outs in the inning. The attack started when Semlacher was hit by a pitch with one out and Byran Afzali (Fr., OF, Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa HS) followed with a walk. Semlacher and Afzali pulled off a double steal with two outs to place both runners in scoring position.

Valentine hit an RBI single for Whitman to score Buckham in the bottom of the inning. Young, who sent Buckham to third with a one-out double, also tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate.

Willamette tallied the game's final run in the eighth inning, when Summers walked and later scored on a single by Petersen.

For the Bearcats, Petersen went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second game. Summers was 2 for 2 with two walks, a run and an RBI. Valentine paced Whitman by going 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

WU starting pitcher T.J. Whidby (Fr., RHP, Woodinville, WA/Redmond HS) gave up three runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win for the Bearcats. He struck out five batters and walked five batters.

Relief pitchers Zach Holcomb (Fr., RHP, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) and Ryan Smith (Sr., RHP, Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS/U. of Redlands) combined to finish the game for Willamette. Holcomb struck out two batters in 1 2/3 innings, while Smith earned one strikeout during the final inning, as he recorded his first save of the season.