Bearcats Sweep Austin College in Doubleheader, 14-2 and 10-1

By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SHERMAN, TEXAS The Willamette University Bearcats swept a baseball doubleheader with fellow NCAA Division III opponent Austin College, decisively winning both games 14-2 and 10-1 on Saturday, Feb. 9.

With the two wins, the Bearcats improved to 2-1 on their season-opening road trip to Texas. Austin fell to 1-6 on the season.

In the first game, Willamette jumped out to a 3-0 lead on an RBI single by Tosh Semlacher (Jr., OF, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) and an RBI double by Peter Davis (Fr., OF/RHP, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS).

After a scoreless second inning, Willamettes bats heated up as the Bearcats scored a total of 11 runs during the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The Bearcat defense held strong against Austin in the first game, allowing no runs through the first six innings. Peter Hoffman (So, RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) got the win as the starting pitcher for the Bearcats, after going seven full innings and allowing only three hits while striking out six batters.

Sky Kelley (Sr., OF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) led the Bearcats on offense, batting 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a double. Matt Hirsch (Fr., INF, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale HS) added five RBIs on two hits, including a 3-RBI double in the fourth inning. Kelley and Semlacher added two RBIs apiece.

Willamette continued its offensive dominance in the second game of the doubleheader, responding to a first inning Austin single with ten unanswered runs including eight runs in the eighth inning.

Austin was first on the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead when Jeremy Halford reached on a Bearcat error. It was the first and last run the Roos scored.

Willamette starting pitcher Zach Holcomb (So., RHP, Bellevue, WA/Newport HS) pitched 5.5 innings, giving up only three hits and striking out three batters.

The Bearcats tied the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly from Hunter Gallant (So., INF, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) and took the lead in the sixth when Austin Hagarty (Fr., INF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) reached home on an error by the Roos.

Willamette held on to its slim 2-1 lead for another inning before the Bearcats blew the game open with an 8-run eighth inning. After two early walks and a Gallant single, both Kelley and Tiras Koon (So., C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) were hit by pitches to force in unearned runs. Hagarty drove in Koon with an RBI single and then scored an unearned run on a Roo throwing error.

The Bearcats also benefited from a 2-RBI single by Ben Peterson (Sr., C, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS/Butte College) and a 2-RBI double from Semlacher. Overall, Willamette recorded four hits in the inning.

WU received relief pitching from Henry Harrison (Sr., LHP, Nevada City, CA/Nevada Union HS) and Garrett Davis, (Jr., RHP, Marysville, WA/Marysville Pilchuk HS). Neither allowed a hit over the final two innings to seal the 10-1 victory.

Willamette wraps up its Texas road trip on Sunday, Feb. 9, with a game against Centenary College (La.) in McKinney, Texas. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST/8 a.m. PST.