Pacific Lutheran Pitchers Limit Bearcats, as Lutes Defeat Willamette, 6-1 and 7-1

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PARKLAND, Wash. -- Pacific Lutheran University starting pitcher Cory Nelson pitched eight innings and limited Willamette University to one run, helping the Lutes win the second game of a doubleheader, 7-1, on Saturday, March 5 at PLU Field. In the first game, relief pitcher Ty Donahou of PLU threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings, as the Lutes defeated the Bearcats, 6-1.

The wins improved to Pacific Lutheran to 8-8 on the season, including 4-4 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 8-9 overall, 3-5 in the NWC.

In the first game Pacific Lutheran held a 5-1 lead after three innings. In the second game, the Lutes broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the seventh inning and added two runs in the eighth.

Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) of Willamette went 5 for 7 during the doubleheader. He was 2 for 4 in the opener and went 3 for 3 with a walk in the nightcap. Perry Van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) blasted a solo homer for the Bearcats in the second inning of the first game. It was his third home run of the season.

The teams will complete the series with one game on Sunday, March 6. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PST).

Lutes Score Twice in Second Inning, Three Times in Third

Willamette plated the first run of the doubleheader when Van Eckhardt sent a pitch over the right field fence with one out in the second inning. Clary batted next  and singled. He later stole second base with two outs, but PLU starter Kyle Rossman ended the inning with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the second, the Lutes took the lead with two runs. Brett Johnson started the stanza with a double to right field. He went to third on a fly out by Tyler Thompson. After Jacob Clements struck out, Cole Johnson hit a two-run homer to right field.

Rossman, who struck out four Bearcats in the first two innings, was relieved by Donahou at the start of the third.

With one out, Donahou hit Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) with a pitch. Bailey went to second on a wild pitch, and then Mason Fessler (So., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) walked. Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) singled to load the bases. A double play got the Lutes out of the inning.

Pacific Lutheran plated three runs in the bottom of the third for a 5-1 advantage. With one out Connor Cantu walked and stole second base. He scored on a single by Landon Packard. One out later, Packard scored from second on a single by Brett Johnson. Thompson followed with an RBI double to left center.

The Lutes earned the game's final run in the sixth, when Brett Johnson opened the inning with a walk and eventually scored. Thompson was hit by a pitch to move Johnson to second. Both runners advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt by Clements, before Brett Johnson scored on a groundout by Cole Johnson.

In the top of the ninth, Willamette loaded the bases with two outs. Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) reached first on a fielding error at second base. Jake Bradley (Fr., OF, Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) and Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) walked. The tying run was on deck when relief pitcher Leif Hansen struck out Bailey to end the game.

Brett Johnson finished 2 for 3 with three runs and an RBI for PLU. Packard went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Cole Johnson was 1 for 3 with a homer, one run scored and three RBIs. Clary's 2-for-4 performance for Willamette was matched by Del Prado.

Pacific Luthean earned an 8-7 advantage in hits. The Bearcats left 10 runners on base, while the Lutes stranded three runners.

PLU Breaks Pitcher's Duel with Four Runs in Seventh

The Bearcats and the Lutes battled in a pitcher's duel for most of the second game, as the teams took a 1-1 tie into the bottom of the seventh. In the first six fames, Willamette scored one run on seven hits, while Pacific Lutheran tallied one run on five hits.

PLU surged in front by scoring four times in the seventh inning. The Lutes plated two runs in the eighth for a 7-1 win.

Neither team scored until Pacific Lutheran took a 1-0 lead in the third. Matt Vick hit a one-out single to right field, and Ben Welch was hit by a pitch. Drew Oord drove in Vick with a double down the right field line. Packard walked, loading the bases. WU starter Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.

The Bearcats tied the game in the top of the fourth after Fessler smacked a leadoff double. One out later, Clary sent a single into right field, allowing Fessler to reach third. Van Eckhardt followed with an RBI single to right. Tyler Janitz (Fr., INF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) advanced Van Eckhardt to second with a sacrifice bunt. A groundout ended the threat.

Nelson for PLU and Steindorf for Willamette kept the game deadlocked at 1-1 through 6 1/2 innings.

In the Lutes' half of the seventh, Kory VanderStaay recorded an infield single to start the inning. Vick hit in to a 6-4-3 double play, before Welch reached base on an infield single toward shortstop. Oord and Packard each connected for a single to bring Welch across the plate. Brett Johnson batted next and belted a three-run homer to left field.

In the eighth inning, PLU recorded four hits, including a two-RBI single by Frank Airey. VanderStaay and Oord each provided a double during the stanza.

Oord went 4 for 5 with a run and and RBI during the game. VanderStaay was 2 for 4 and scored once. Thompson also went 2 for 4.

For Willamette, Clary's 3-for-3 effort led the way. Bailey was 2 for 4.

Nelson of PLU upped his record to 2-0 with the win. He allowed nine hits and one run in eight innings. He recorded four strikeouts and walked two batters. Steindorf's record went to 2-2. He earned three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.