Fessler's Home Run in 11th Inning Sends Willamette Past Lewis & Clark, 2-1

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Mason Fessler (So., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic HS) blasted a solo home run to start the 11th inning, and the Willamette University Bearcats went on to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 2-1, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 19. Willamette, which won the first game 10-3, improved to 11-12 overall, 6-8 in the Northwest Conference. L&C fell to 8-14 on the season, 3-8 in the NWC.

Fessler's home run was a powerful line drive that cleared the monster fence in right field and left the ballpark just inches inside the foul pole. It was his third home run of the season, tying him with Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) and Perry Van Eckhardt (So., CF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) for the team lead.

WU starting pitcher Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) threw nine strong innings for the Bearcats. He struck out 10 batters, allowed no walks and scattered 10 hits. Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) pitched the 10th and 11th innings to earn the win. Watt registered three strikeouts, had no walks and allowed two hits, while advancing his record to 2-1 on the season.

Aaron Landecker, the starting pitcher for the Pioneers, tossed nine innings and recorded two strikeouts, while allowing two walks. He gave up eight hits to the Bearcats. Reliever Drake Gilliland completed the game and fell to 0-2 with the loss.

Van Eckhardt doubled for the Bearcats with one out in the top of the second, but a line drive out and a groundout left him at second base. Lewis & Clark threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the inning after Spencer Gutterman and Michael Pangelinan hit consecutive singles with two outs. Steindorf forced Christian Macdonald to fly out to left center for the third out.

In the top of the third, Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) singled up the middle and eventually crossed the plate to provide Willamette with a 1-0 lead.

After getting on base, Janitz moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC). With two outs, Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) singled to left field. Janitz crossed the plate before Bailey was thrown out attempting to reach second.

Neither team scored again until L&C tied the game in the bottom of the eighth.

Ryan Ericksen hit a single to center field to start the inning. Pinch-runner Cameron Paton reached second on a sacrifice bunt toward third base by Ben Beck. Paton remained at second on an infield single to shortstop by Matt Donovan. Both runners moved up one base on a groundout toward first by Bradley Lezak.

Sean Shepherd followed with L&C's second infield hit of the inning, a single toward third that drove in Paton. Donovan advanced to third on the play. Conner Sick hit a fielder's choice to shortstop to end the inning, as Shepherd was thrown out at second.

WU smacked the ball in the top of the ninth, but L&C escaped the inning without giving up a hit.

Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) pounded the ball to right center, but Beck caught it near the warning track. Janitz sent a ball into left that was curving away from the fielder, but Pangelinan made a shoestring catch. Parra hit the ball behind the bag at second, forcing Lezak to make a long throw to first.

In the bottom of the 11th, Sick hit a single up the middle, but Watt struck out Gutterman for the first out. Alika Abderrahman flied out to center field for the second out. Watt fanned Nick Lockwood to end the game.

Fessler was one of four Bearcats with two hits during the game. Fessler, Del Prado and Van Eckhardt each went 2 for 5. Janitz finished 2 for 4.

Lezak was 2 for 5 with a double for the Pioneers. Dononvan also went 2 for 5, while Ericksen was 2 for 3.

The Bearcats and the Pioneers will complete the three-game series on Sunday, March 20. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).