Bearcats Earn 26 Hits in Two Wins over Occidental, 8-4 and 8-5

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

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University earned 26 hits while winning both games of a doubleheader against Occidental College, 8-4 and 8-5, at John Lewis Field on Saturday, April 11. It was Senior Day for the Bearcats, who honored the team's nine seniors prior to the first game.

The Bearcats improved to 20-13 on the season, while Occidental fell to 19-13. Willamette won the weekend series, 2-1, after dropping the first game 6-2 on Friday.

In Saturday's opener, Willamette pitchers Peter Hoffman (Sr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) and Gordie Clary (Jr., RF/RHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) combined to strike out 12 batters.

Hoffman pitched the first seven innings and improved to 4-2. He struck out seven batters, while allowing 11 hits and no walks. Clary struck out five batters and gave up just one hit over the final two innings to earn his first save.

For the Bearcats, Devin Bales (Sr., OF, Graham, WA/Graham-Kapowsin HS/Grays Harbor College) was 3 for 3 with a run scored, while Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer. Mason Fessler (Fr., DH/3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) finished 2 for 4 with two doubles, a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Devon DeRaad of Occidental was 3 for 4 with one RBI. A.J. Libunao went 3 for 4 and scored a run.

WU scored first in game one after Fessler led off the bottom of the first with a walk. Fessler later scored with two outs when a fly ball by Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) was dropped by shortstop Walker Marks.

Marks singled for Occidental in the third and eventually scored on a double by Jonathan Brooks. Willamette regained the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Fessler doubled down the left field line, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rolenn Himuro (Sr., CF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and scored on a double by Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS).

The Bearcats produced another run in the fourth. Jordan Ramp (Sr., LF, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS/Saddleback College) singled, and went to second on a sacrifice by Breier. Bales singled to send Ramp to third. Fong brought in the run with a sacrifice fly.

Occidental tied the game by scoring a pair of runs in the fifth, but Willamette broke the tie with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Himuro started the rally with a single. Jonathon Wong made a diving catch in center field on a line drive by Gallant, but the Bearcats answered with singles by Koon and Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) to drive home Himuro.

With two outs, Breier blasted a three-run homer to left field, extending WU's lead to 7-3.

The Tigers got back one run as Wong supplied an RBI single in the sixth inning, but Occidental was unable to move closer. Fessler hit an RBI double for the Bearcats in the eighth inning to complete the scoring.

In the second game, WU scored five runs in the bottom of the first for a 5-1 lead and the Bearcats never trailed. The early outburst included an RBI double by Koon, plus RBI singles by Breier and Ramp. Bales drove in two runs with a single through the right side for the Bearcats' sixth hit.

Occidental pulled within 5-3 by scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings. Brooks hit an RBI double in the third and Ryan Furhman drove in the run in the fourth with a squeeze bunt, allowing Jeff Johnson to score just before the throw to the plate.

One run by Willamette in each of the next three innings gave the Bearcats an 8-3 edge. Koon, who hit for three-fourths of the cycle, singled to drive in the run in the fourth. Koon then smacked his 10th home run of the season in the sixth inning -- a solo shot that easily cleared the right field fence.

The Tigers threatened with two outs in the top of the seventh. Libunau walked, while Chris Strain singled and gave way to pinch-runner Shasta Clokey. Johnson walked to load the bases. James Aubrey drove in Libunau and Strain with a double to left field. A fly out to right by Nolan Watson ended the inning.

Koon was 3 for 5 with two runs and three RBIs. Gallant also finished 3 of 5 for WU with a double and one run. Also hitting a double was Bales, who went 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs. Ramp was 3 for 4 with one run and one RBI. For Occidental, Charlie Caccamo was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Brooks, Johnson and Aubrey each hit one double.

Lucas Still (2-1) received the win in game two. Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) pitched the final three innings for his first save. Occidental starter Riley James gave up six hits and five runs in two innings, as he fell to 4-3.

Willamette will take on Northwest Conference opponent Whitworth University on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19 in Spokane, Washington. The teams will play one game on Saturday at 12 p.m. (PDT), followed by two games on Sunday, also at 12 p.m.