Willamette Defeats Boxers, 7-2, as Bearcats Improve to 2-0 in NWC

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University edged out a close win at #3 doubles to build a 2-1 lead, then won five of six singles matches, to defeat Pacific University, 7-2, at the Courthouse Tennis Club on Friday, Feb. 19. Willamette improved to 2-2 overall, 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 2-3 overall, 1-2 in the NWC.

The first two doubles matches ended with Willamette and Pacific tied at one win apiece. The #3 doubles match between Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) of Willamette and Eric Furuya and Micah Leo of Pacific was decided in a tie-breaker. House and Mack won the tie-breaker 7-3 to take the match, 9-8.

Willamette extended its lead with five straight-set wins in singles. Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) led the way with a 6-3, 6-4 win at #2 singles over Spencer Hing. Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, Hawaii/Hilo HS) of Willamette won #3 singles over Furuya, 6-0, 6-1. Houser defeated Leo at #4 singles, 6-3, 6-1.

Pacific's only win in singles was at the #1 position, where Michael Okada defeated Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) in a very close match that featured a lengthy tie-breaker in the first set, following by another tie-breaker in the second set. Okada was victorious, 7-6 (14-12), 7-6 (7-5).

Baumgartner combined with Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) to easily win #2 doubles, 8-1, over Scott Kawamura and Patrick Kinghorn. Pacific won #1 doubles, as Hing and Hector Alcayde downed Ferguson and Wong, 8-4.

Willamette will host the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 20. Match time at the Courthouse Tennis Club (1379 Madison NE) is set for 1 p.m. (PST).

Friday, Feb. 19
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Willamette University 7, Pacific University 2

Singles
#1 - Michael Okada (PAC) defeated Michael Baumgartner (WU), 7-6 (14-12), 7-6 (7-5)
#2 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Spencer Hing (PAC), 6-3, 6-4
#3 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Eric Furuya (PAC), 6-0, 6-1
#4 - Matthew Houser (WU) defeated Micah Leo (PAC), 6-3, 6-1
#5 - Luke Lagattuta (WU) defeated Hector Alcayde (PAC), 6-1, 6-2
#6 - Nathan Ramos (WU) defeated Scott Kawamura (PAC), 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
#1 - Alcayde and Hing (PAC) defeated Ferguson and Wong (WU), 8-4
#2 - Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Kawamura and Patrick Kinghorn (PAC), 8-1
#3 - Houser and Micah Mack (WU) defeated Furuya and Leo (PAC), 9-8 (7-3)

Records:
Willamette University is 2-2 overall, 2-0 NWC. Pacific University is 2-3 overall, 1-2 NWC.