Bearcats Score Six Runs in the Seventh Inning to Defeat Crosstown Rival Corban

Keizer, Ore. - Willamette Baseball broke a 3-3 tie by scoring six runs in the top of the seventh inning and went on to defeat Corban 9-6 in a non-conference matchup.  Tassos Foster had a home run and Adam Birt had three hits, two runs batted in, and scored twice for the Bearcats.  Matthew Mason pitched a strong four innings in relief to get the win.

The Bearcats got on the board early when Foster led off the game with a home run.  The Warriors tied the game in the bottom of the first, but Willamette was able to put up single runs in the next two innings to move ahead 3-1.  The second-inning run scored on a Joshua Murhpy sacrifice fly after the Bearcats loaded the bases with no outs.  In the third, Nate Hamburger led off with a single, stole a base, and scored on a single by Luke Piazza.  Willamette loaded the bases again in that inning but was held to the lone run.

Corban added single runs of their own in the bottom of the third and the fifth to tie the game, before Willamette broke the game open in the seventh.  Foster again got things started, this time with a double, and scored on an error after a Piazza single.  After a couple of walks, Birt doubled to left center to score Liam O'Connor and Charlie Ferbet.  Birt scored on a single by Joshua Murphy and Matthew Rienhardt scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.  

The Warriors were able to cut the lead to 9-6 but JD Willis came in to close out the game in the 9th, earning the save.  Playing a midweek game with conference matchups this weekend, Willamette used five pitchers in the game.  Matthew Mason earned the win after relieving starter Roman Mahler in the top of the third.  Mason gave up one run on three hits and struck out three over four innings to earn the win.

Birt led the Bearcats with three hits, followed by Foster, O'Connor, and Piazza with two each. Birt, Murphy, and Piazza all had two runs batted in, while Foster and Birt scored twice to lead the team.

After playing an opening series with Pacific several weeks ago, the Bearcats get back to Northwest Conference action when they travel to Linfield University for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22nd, and a single game on Sunday, March 23rd.