Bearcats Win First Game, 3-1, but Loggers Split Doubleheader, 11-7

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 3-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Friday, March 26 at Logger Baseball Field. The Loggers tallied six runs in the fifth inning of the second game to rally from a 7-5 deficit on their way to an 11-7 win that split the doubleheader.

WU and Puget Sound will play a second NWC doubleheader on Saturday, March 27. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats enter tomorrow's action with an 11-7 overall record, including 5-5 in the NWC. Puget Sound is 7-7 overall, 3-5 in the NWC.

The Loggers gained a 1-0 advantage in the second inning of the opener. With one out, Mitchell Nabeta walked. Davis Miller hit a single to center field to advance Nabeta to second. Each moved up one base on a groundout, then AJ Morioka singled up the middle to drive Nabeta across the plate. A groundout by Nathan Blocher ended the inning.

Willamette tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth. Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) received a walk with one out. He advanced to second when Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) grounded out to the pitcher. Little reached third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a single up the middle by Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS).

The two runs by WU in the top of the seventh gave the Bearcats a 3-1 lead. Jeff Hoffman (Fy., INF, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Little sent a fielder's choice toward third and Hoffman was thrown out at second. With two outs, Werkmeister-Martin singled into center field to move Little to third. Werkmeister-Martin stole second. Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) reached first on an error by the shortstop that allowed Little and Werkmeister-Martin to score.

In the bottom of the seventh, Puget Sound had runners at first and second after Kyle Strash walked with two outs and Dylan Joyce followed with an infield single toward third. Jonas Kim hit a fly ball into right field, but Little ran from second base to make a leaping catch about 10 yards from the foul line.

The Loggers threatened to tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth, but Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP/OF, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) earned a save for the Bearcats. Joyner walked Jack McCullar. Pinch-runner Aaron Tom reached second when Jackson Bolitho grounded out to shortstop. After Strash walked, Joyner registered the second out by striking out Joyce. Kim singled to right to load the bases, but Joyner forced Clayton Waltz to pop-up to second to end the game.

Joyner picked up his second save. WU starter Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) pitched 5 1/3 innings and left the game in a 1-1 tie. He struck out four batters, walked two Loggers, and allowed five hits. Reliever Matt Pisacane (Jr., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS) tossed 2 2/3 innings and received the win to move to 1-0. Pisacane gave up two hits with one strikeout and one walk. Puget Sound reliever Tyler Beckley fell to 0-1.

Willamette finished the first game with just five hits, but Werkmeister-Martin was 3 of 5 with a run and an RBI. Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) recorded the game's only extra-base hit on a double to center with two outs in the eighth. The Loggers earned eight hits in the opener. Joyce and Kim each went 2 for 5.

The Bearcats trailed 4-2 after three innings in the second game, before plating four runs in the fourth to grab a 6-4 edge. Faudskar started the fourth stanza with a double to center and advanced to third on a passed ball. With one out, Little walked, and with two outs, Little stole second. Daly hit a 2-RBI single to right field. Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) followed with his 10th home run of the season, a 2-run shot to left field.

Strash provided Puget Sound with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning that drove in an unearned run to pull the Loggers within 6-5. Faudskar hit into a fielder's choice in the fifth inning and later scored on a double by Little to increase WU's lead to 7-5.

Puget Sound's big fifth inning included five hits and an error. Kim and McCullar each singled to center. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance. Clayton Waltz drove in Kim and McCullar with a double to right field. Waltz went to third on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a wild pitch, as Puget Sound moved in front, 8-7. With the bases loaded and two outs, Joyce connected on a 2-run single up the middle. Kim batted next and hit into an error that allowed the final run to score.

WU left two runners on base in the sixth after Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) walked with two outs and Vandemark singled. A flyout ended the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Loggers had three hits, but a double play kept them from scoring. Wagner singled with one out in the seventh, but the game ended with a flyout and a groundout.

Relief pitcher Peter Fagan of Puget Sound improved to 1-0. He allowed four hits and one run while tossing the final 3 1/3 innings. WU reliever Mason Cook fell to 1-2. Three Loggers -- Kim, McCullar, and Waltz -- each went 3 of 4. McCullar and Waltz each recorded a double and earned three RBIs. Nelsen was 2 of 3 with his 2-run homer for Willamette. Vandemark went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Little finished 2 of 4 with a double, a run, and an RBI. Faudskar was 2 of 4 with a double and three runs.