Nelsen Blasts Double and Home Run, but Sagehens Hold Off Bearcats, 6-5

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Michael Nelsen (Jr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) hit an RBI double in the second inning, and belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning to cut into a three-run lead by Ponoma-Pitzer (Calif.), but the Sagehens held on for a 6-5 win over the Bearcats. Both teams concluded the game with 2-2 records on the season.

The Sagehens led 6-3 entering the eighth inning, but Nelsen's blast to center field with one out tightened up the score at 6-5. Layton Wagner (Fy., DH/3B/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), who started the inning with a single up the middle, also scored on the play.

Pomona-Pitzer sent reliever Trevor Walker to the mound in the top of the ninth inning. He faced three batters and recorded three strikeouts to register his first save of the year.

The Sagehens' starting pitcher, Tyler Yoshihara, allowed five hits and three runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings to record the win. He struck out four batters and walked three batters. WU starter Dawson Enright (Sr., RHP, La Mesa, CA/James Madison HS) gave up four runs on four hits in the first inning, but did not allow another hit while throwing until the end of the fifth. Enright fell to 0-1 with the loss.

Neslen was 2 for 4 at the plate with a run and three RBIs. Tyler Vandemark (Jr., LF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) went 2 of 2 with a double and two walks for the Bearcats. Other Willamette players with a double during the game were Joey Faudskar (Sr., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) and Ben Setlak (Jr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS).

Kevin Lo was 3 of 5 for the Sagehens, as he connected on a two-run double and scored one run. Six other Pomona-Pitzer players earned one hit apiece. The Sagehens outhit the Bearcats by a slim 9-8 margin.

"We played two good teams on the road (including three games at Occidental College). Although we came away with a split, we were one or two plays away from going 4-0. It's a good first step."
— Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick

Willamette is scheduled to return to action on Friday, Feb. 14 with a game against Whitworth University at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro, Oregon, starting at 2 p.m. (PST). The game is part of a series of non-conference games between Northwest Conference teams on Friday, Saturday (Feb. 15) and Sunday (Feb. 16).

Joining Willamette and Whitworth in the three-day event will be Whitman College and Lewis & Clark College. Whitworth and Whitman will open Friday's schedule at Ron Tonkin Field with a game at 11 a.m. After Willamette and Whitworth play, Whitman will take on Lewis & Clark at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the action will be at Milwaukie High School in the Portland area, starting with Willamette against Whitman at 12 p.m. (PST), followed by Lewis & Clark versus Whitworth at 3 p.m. On Sunday, the final game of the event match Willamette against Lewis & Clark at Milwaukie High School, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

At Pomona-Ptizer, the Bearcats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Faudskar sent a double to left center to begin the game. Vandemark advanced Faudskar to second with a sacrifice bunt. Justin Scanlon (Sr., 2B, San Jose, CA/Leigh HS/West Valley College) drove home Faudskar with a single to left field.

Pomona-Pitzer's initial hit in the bottom of the first was a single to center field by Lo with one out. Jeremy Jess moved Lo to third with a double to left field. Both runners scored when Jake Patterson-Kohou singled to center. Ryan Nishi was hit by a pitch, and then Nolan McCafferty belted a two-run double down the left field line.

WU chipped at the Sagehens' 4-1 lead by scoring single runs in the second and sixth stanzas. In the second, Ryan Whithorn (Jr., 3B, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) walked with two outs and scored on Nelsen's double near the left field line. During the sixth, Fischel walked with one out. He advanced to third on a double by Setlak, and scored when Wagner hit into a fielder's that led to a throwing error by middle relief pitcher Seth Stone.

The Sagehens returned to a three-run cushion at 6-3 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Jack Hanley singled. One out later, Hanley went to second on a wild pitch. Jack Damelio hit an infield single, sending Freeman to third. Lo batted next and his at bat was prolonged by an error on a foul ball. Lo eventually doubled to right field, driving in Hanley and Damelio with unearned runs.

Nelsen's home run in the eighth pulled Willamette back within striking distance of the Sagehens. Walkers' strong pitching in the top of the ninth secured the win for Pomona-Pitzer.