Hoffman and Johnson Pitch Complete Games, as Bearcats Defeat Pacific, 4-1 and 5-1

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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Peter Hoffman (So., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) and Parker Johnson (Sr., RHP, Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS) each pitched a complete game, leading Willamette University to a pair of victories over Pacific University, 4-1 and 5-1, on Friday, March 29 at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

Hoffman allowed just three hits in the opener. Johnson gave up only four hits in the second game.

The Bearcats amassed 24 hits on the day, led by Brandon Chinn (Jr., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS), who went 3 for 4 in the opener and finished 5 of 7 in the doubleheader. Hunter Gallant (So., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) and Rolenn Himuro (So., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) both recorded two hits in each game.

Willamette upped its record to 11-15 on the season, 6-8 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 7-16 overall, 4-7 in the NWC.

Tyson Giza (Sr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) walked as the first batter in the opening game. He moved to second when Matt Hirsch (Fr., SS, Edmonds, WA/Meadowdale HS) walked, and then went to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Giza scored when a grounder by Tiras Koon (So., C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) resulted in Hirsch being thrown out at second.

WU maintained its 1-0 lead until the fourth inning, when Andrew Wilson (So., OF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS), Chinn and Austin Hagarty (Fr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) strung together three singles with one out. Himuro brought Wilson across the plate with a single up the middle. A double play ended the threat, but WU led 2-0.

Hoffman, who gave up a single to Walker Olis in the first inning, did not allow another hit by the Boxers until the eighth inning. By then, Willamette owned a 4-0 advantage, including runs by Gallant in the fifth inning and Hagarty in the sixth. Brad Breier (So., DH/C, Torrance, CA/South HS) drove in Gallant with a double. Giza used an RBI single to score Hagarty.

The Boxers began the eighth stanza with Nick Tasaka being hit by a pitch. Austin Gallagher singled and Tasaka went to second. Two consecutive groundouts brought Tasaka across the plate.

Gallant and Breier singled for WU in the top of the ninth, but Pacific recorded its second double play to get out of the inning. Hoffman gave up one hit in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out the next three batters. Hoffman, now 4-4, finished with seven strikeouts, no walks and two hit batsmen.

Johnson, who has been Willamette's closer for most of the past four seasons, received his first start since throwing five innings in an 11-0 win over Simpson University (Calif.) on Feb. 20, 2011. He hasn't been needed as a closer in many games this year, with two saves in five previous appearances.

Against Pacific, he was holding a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Donnie Bradley earned the first hit on a single to right field. Pacific achieved two hits in the eighth and one in the ninth.

WU had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth inning on a single by Hirsch and two hit batsmen. Hirsch was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, before a pop-up by Giza ended the inning.

The Bearcats broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the fifth. Hagarty reached base on an error by third baseman Logan Moen. Gallant doubled to right center to send Hagarty to third, and then Breier drove in the run with a single to center.

Pacific tied the game in the next half-inning without a hit. Michael Arakaki walked. He stole second and third, before scoring an unearned run two outs later when Dan Jaffe reached base on an error by Hagarty.

WU surged into a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Andrew Wilson (So., OF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) was hit by a pitch and Himuro earned a bunt single. Giza sacrificed, but reached first on an error by the pitcher, as Wilson scored and Himuro went to third. Hagarty drove in Himuro with a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh inning, WU created a run from a single by Hirsch, a single by Ben Petersen (Sr., C, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS/Butte College), a sacrifice bunt by Chinn and a sacrifice fly by Wilson. In the ninth, Hirsch reached on an error and later scored the final run on a single by Chinn.

Johnson (1-1) registered four strikeouts and gave up two walks. Pacific starter Kyle Treadway (1-6), allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks, while hitting four batsmen in 5-plus innings.

Chinn was 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Gallant and Himuro went 2 for 4. Hirsch was 2 for 5 and scored twice. Hagarty, Wilson and Himuro each scored once.

The teams will complete the series with a single game on Saturday, March 30. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).