Watt Throws Nine Innings with Nine Strikeouts in 2-1 Win over Lewis & Clark

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

WILSONVILLE, ORE. -- Junior pitcher Jackson Watt (RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) threw all nine innings and struck out nine batters for a complete-game victory as Willamette University defeated Lewis & Clark College, 2-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at Wilsonville High School on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) hit a three-run triple and Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) belted a two-run double in the second game, as Willamette rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 7-5 win.

The Bearcats upped their record to 6-0 on the season. Lewis & Clark fell to 0-4. Willamette was the visiting team throughout the doubleheader.

Although both teams compete in the Northwest Conference, WU and L&C played non-conference games on Saturday. The teams will play another non-conference game on Sunday, Feb. 15, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. (PST) at Wilsonville High School.

Pitcher's Duel in Game 1

In the first game, Watt threw a seven-hitter. All of the hits by the Pioneers were singles.

Willamette took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the second inning.

Gordie Clary (Jr., RF, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) opened the stanza with a single to left. He went to second on a groundout by Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) and reached third when an error at shortstop allowed Mason Fessler (Fr., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) on base.

Clary scored when Shea Harrison (Jr., LF/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) hit into a fielder's choice, as Fessler was thrown out at second. The score stayed 1-0 until L&C matched the Bearcats with an unearned run in the fourth.

With one out, Bradley Lezak reached first on an error. Tommy Massari hit a fly ball that was dropped in shallow center by shortstop Aaron Fong (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) with two outs. Lezak scored and Massari reached second on the play. A groundout by Sean Shepherd ended the inning.

Fong earned the game's only extra-base hit, a double for Willamette in the top of the eighth inning. He went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) and scored on a single by Rolenn Himuro (Sr., CF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), giving WU a 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers had a runner at second with one out in the eighth, but Hayden Higger, who singled earlier in the inning, was caught in a run-down between second and third on a grounder by Ben Beck. Later in the inning, Beck was thrown out by Breier while trying to steal second base.

Lezak singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Watt then struck out Michael Kinkenon. Massari walked -- the only walk allowed by Watt --- before being throw out at second when Shepherd hit into a fielder's choice.

Watt improved to 2-0 with the win. He has struck out 19 batters in 16 innings pitched. L&C starter Ryan Strombom went eight innings and allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. He fell to 0-2.

Bearcats Rally in Game 2

In the first inning of the second game, L&C scored four unearned runs on four hits and an error. With one out and a runner on first, Lezak singled up the middle. Kinkenon hit to the mound, but pitcher Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) threw wildly toward second, and Eric Hyun scored.

Massari added an RBI single with two outs and Connor Eggleston belted a two-run triple to left center to bring in the final runs.

WU pulled within 4-3 in the top of the third on Gallant's two-out, bases-loaded triple that went off the top of the left field fence and bounced back into play. Jacob Parra (So., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC), Nate Bush (Fr., SS, Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Himuro scored on the play. Koon and Clary walked before the inning ended on a flyout.

L&C extended its lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the third. Massari tripled to open the inning. He scored on a groundout by Shepherd.

The Bearcats tied the game at 5-5. In the fifth, Troy Conway (Fr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) singled and later scored on a groundout by Himuro. In the sixth, Clary smacked a leadoff triple and scored on a single by Fessler.

Willamette took the lead in the top of the seventh on Koon's two-run double. With one out, Himuro hit a bunt single toward the third base side of the mound. After Himuro stole second, Gallant walked on four pitches. The fourth pitch was in the dirt and Himuro went to third. Koon then doubled to right center.

Andrew Koumelis (Jr., LHP, Roseville, CA/Jesuit HS/Sacramento City College) of WU pitched four innings from the fifth through the eighth. He struck out three batters and allowed just two hits and no runs. Lucas Still (Fr., RHP, Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers HS) tossed the ninth inning.

The first batter Still faced was Beck, who singled to third base. Eric Hyun hit into a 1-6-3 double play. Lezak singled through the left side of the infield, but Kinkenon struck out to end the game.

Koumelis moved to 1-0 with the win. Still recorded his second save of the season. Keean Kondo suffered the loss for L&C and fell to 0-1.