Bearcats Fall to Linfield Despite Home Runs by Lau, Baskin, and Hamburger
McMinnville, Ore. - Bearcat Baseball got three home runs in the final game of the series with Linfield, but they weren't enough to down the Wildcats and Willamette lost game three of the weekend set 7-4. Preston Lau led the Bearcats with three hits, including one of the home runs, with Drew Baskin and Nate Hamburger hitting the other home runs.
After only one runner reached base in the opening two innings, Lau led off the top of the 3rd with a solo home run to open the scoring. After a fly out by Liam O'Connor, singles by Joshua Murphy and Tassos Foster, and a walk to Hamburger loaded the bases with one out. The inning ended when Rocco Granucci grounded into double play and the Bearcats led 1-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Linfield answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third on three singles and then took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth on a three-run home run by Luke Porter. Drew Baskin pulled Willamette within 4-3 with a two-run shot in the top of the seventh and after Trevor Sostman walked and Lau singled with no outs, again the Bearcats were unable to get any more runs across.
After a Linfield run in the bottom of the seventh, Hamburger got the run back with a solo home run in the top of the 8th to make the score 5-4 in favor of the Wildcats. Linfield extended the lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning and went on to win the game 7-4.
Lau had three hits in four at-bats and was the only Bearcat with more than one hit for the game. All four Bearcat runs came via the home run, with Baskin leading the way with two RBIs.
Jackson Garrett got the start on the mound for Willamette and pitched 4 ⅔ inning, giving up six hits and one run while striking out five. Dylan Turner got the loss in relief, giving up the home run to Porter and an unearned run in 2 ⅓ innings of work.
Willamette continues Northwest Conference play next weekend when they host Pacific Luthern University for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29th, and a single game on Sunday, March 30th. With the ongoing construction at Spec Keene Stadium, the games will all be played at Linfield University.