Bearcats Rally in Ninth Inning to Stay Undefeated with 7-6 Win over L&C

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

WILSONVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University freshman Cameron Igarashi (Fr., RF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) hit a walk-off single to drive in Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College, 7-6, on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Wilsonville High School. The Bearcats remained undefeated at 7-0 on the season, while L&C dropped to 0-5.

With the Bearcats trailing 6-5, Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) started the bottom of the ninth with a double to right field. Koon followed with a walk. Two outs later, Gallant was still at second and Koon was at first when Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) singled to center field, allowing Gallant to score the tying run.

Koon moved to second on Breier's hit. Igarashi then singled to left field sending Koon across the plate.

Gordie Clary (Jr., OF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS), who went 2 for 4 at the plate and scored two runs, also recorded the pitching win. He went to the mound with WU trailling and forced the final two outs in the top of the ninth. Clary is 1-0 on the season.

The Bearcats led 5-2 entering the top of the eighth inning, but the Pioneers tallied three runs with two outs to tie the score.

Michael Kinkenon started the two-out rally for L&C. Tommy Massari moved Kinkenon to third with a single to center. Andrew Traver hit a double to score Kinkenon. Later in the inning, Josh Kirch drove in two runs with a double to center. Ben Beck struck out, leaving runners at second and third.

L&C took the lead with one run in the top of the ninth. Bradley Lezak walked, and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Eggleston. Sean Shepherd was intentionally walked to set up a double play, but Kinkenon singled to left and Lezak scored. Massari struck out and Evan Gray hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Willamette swept the three-game non-conference series with the Pioneers. The Bearcats won 2-1 and 7-5 in the first two games of the series on Saturday.

In Sunday's game, each team achieved 10 hits, including two doubles. Clary was one of three WU players with two hits. He was joined by Gallant, who went 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI, and by Breier, who finished 2 for 5 with one run and two RBIs. Gallant and Himuro pounded out Willamette's doubles.

For L&C, Massari finished 3 for 4 with one run scored. Traver went 2 for 2, drove in two runs and scored once. In addition to Traver's double in the eighth inning, the Pioneers also received a double from Shepherd.

The Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, starting with back-to-back singles by Koon and Clary. After two fly outs, Igarashi reached base on an error by the third baseman, as WU loaded the bases. Aaron Fong (Fr., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) singled through the left side to drive in Koon and Clary.

Lewis & Clark cut the lead in half when Shepherd led off the fourth inning with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Traver. Clary doubled to start Willamette's next at bat, and eventually scored two batters later, when Breier reached first on an error by Lezak at shortstop.

Willamette's 3-1 lead was reduced to one run when Lezak singled with two outs in the fifth inning, reached second on a wild pickoff attempt, and scored on a single by Eggleston.

With one out in the WU half of the sixth, Breier singled to center and Igarashi walked. One out later, Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) walked to load the bases. Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) was hit by a pitch to force Breier home. Igarashi scored when Gallant hit into a fielder's choice, but L&C was unable to record an out.

The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 21 with a doubleheader against Whitman College at John Lewis Field in Salem, Ore. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (PST). Willamette and the Missionaries will complete the series with one game on Sunday, Feb. 22, starting at 12 p.m.