Bearcats Rank Nationally on NCAA Division III Baseball Statistics

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University athletes were ranked on the final NCAA Division III baseball statistics report for the 2016 season. In addition, Willamette was ranked in the top 60 in five team categories out of 374 baseball teams in Division III.

The highest ranking for the Bearcats was earned by Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS), who finished eighth in sacrifice bunts per game (0.32). He also ranked 10th in total sacrifice bunts with 12 in 37 games played. Casey Bell of LaGrange College (Ga.) led both categories by recording 27 bunts in 43 games.

Freshman pitcher Brandon Nelson (Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS) was ranked 13th in strikeout-to-walk ratio and was 19th in fewest walks allowed per nine innings. Nelson averaged 6.43 strikeouts for each walk he allowed, as he earned 45 strikeouts and allowed just seven walks in 64 1/3 innings. By keeping his walks to a minimum, he gave up just under one walk (0.98) per nine innings on the mound.

Will Coleman of Clarkson University (N.Y.) led the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio with 15.67 strikeouts per walk. He struck out 47 batters and had just three walks. Coty Franklin from Hope College (Mich.) ranked #1 in Division III with 0.43 walks per nine innings after allowing only three walks in 62 1/3 innings pitched.

Willamette's closer, Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS), ranked 24th in the country with seven saves for the Bearcats. Four of his saves were against Northwest Conference teams in NWC action. Two more were earned against NWC teams in non-conference games.

Eric Dumas from Wheaton College (Mass.) ranked first in Division III with 13 saves during the season.

Led by Nelson, Willamette's pitchers ranked 35th as a team in walks allowed per nine innings (2.76). The Bearcats walked 107 batters in 348 1/3 innings pitched. NWC opponent Whitworth ranked #1 with 2.07 walks per nine innings.

The Bearcats ranked 34th in sacrifice bunts with 42 on the season. In addition to Bailey's 12 bunts, WU received at least one sacrifice bunt from 11 other players. LaGrange topped the country with 66 sacrifice bunts.

Willamette finished the year 44th in home runs per game (0.67) and 53rd in total home runs. Led by five homers apiece from Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS), Mason Fessler (So., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) and Perry Van Eckhardt (So., CF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS), the Bearcats registered 26 homers in 39 games.

East Texas Baptist University was the national leader in home runs and home runs per game. ETBU pounded out 71 round-trippers in 45 games for 1.58 homers per contest.

During the season, the Bearcats received 171 walks to rank 60th in the nation. Bailey led the way with 24 walks. Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) walked 17 times, while Fessler walked 16 times and Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) earned 15 walks.

The College of Wooster (Ohio) topped the country with an amazing 263 walks after playing five North Coast Athletic Conference tournament games and five NCAA Tournament games.

Willamette achieved a 20-19 record this spring and went 11-13 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats earned 20 or more wins for the seventh time in the past nine years, including each of the last four seasons.

NOTE: Eligibility year listed for each player is for the 2016 season.