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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University blasted five homers and accumulated 22 hits, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 21-10, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 at John Lewis Field. The win allowed WU to gain a split of the twinbill, after the Loggers won the first game, 8-4.

In the second game, T.C. Lee (Sr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) and Kyle Stalker (Sr., 1B, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) each hit two home runs for the 'Cats. Dan Maslanik (Sr., C, Boulder, CO/Fairview HS) added one home run. Mark Rockey of UPS smacked three homers during the game and achieved five homers in the four-game weekend series.

The Bearcats are now 15-13 on the season, 12-9 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound ended the day with an 11-16 overall record, including 8-11 in the NWC. The team split the series with two wins apiece.

At the start of the second game, WU fell behind 2-0 on a homer by Rockey, but the Bearcats plated six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Willamette never trailed again.

Doug Bloom (So., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) doubled with one out and scored WU's first run on a single by Jack McGee (Sr., 3B/1B, Hillsborough, CA/St. Ignatius HS). Stalker and Mitchell Rowan (Fr., RF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) also singled to drive in McGee. Lee followed with a three-run homer to center field and Maslanik tacked on a solo homer later in the inning.

McGee singled and later scored on a sacrifice line drive to right field by Stalker in the second inning to give the 'Cats a 7-2 lead. UPS countered with four runs on five hits in the top of the third. Two runs crossed the plate on Rockey's second homer of the game. David Thirlby added an RBI double and Chaz Kramer drove in a run with a single down the left field line.

Willamette's lead was just 7-6 when the Loggers finished batting, but the Bearcats wasted little time in extending the margin. Lee belted his second homer of the contest to start WU's half of the third inning. Another five runs followed, with one scoring on a single by Bloom, another when McGee reached base on an error, and the final three when Stalker blasted a home run to right field. The 'Cats led 13-6.

The Loggers scored three times in the fourth inning, including one run on Rockey's third homer. Puget Sound achieved one run in the fifth inning to pull within 13-10. Gregg Ringold walked and later scored on a one-out single by Doug Cox. The inning ended when Will Mentor grounded into a double play with runners at first and second.

WU pulled away with two runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth. McGee doubled and Stalker connected for a two-run homer in the fifth. In the sixth, Michael Rierson (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) had the big hit with a three-run double to center field.

Blake Paisley (Fr., RHP, Saratoga, CA/Saratoga HS) gave up nine runs in four innings, but received more than enough offensive support to record the win. He improved to 3-3 on the season. Andrew Wyman (So., RHP, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) pitched the final three innings for WU, allowed just one run and earned a save. UPS starter Spencer Crace (0-2) took the loss. He was the first of seven pitchers used by UPS during the game.

McGee was 4 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs. Stalker went 3 for 3, drove in six runs and scored three times. Lee finished 3 for 5, while providing three runs and four RBIs. For UPS, Rockey went 3 for 3 with three runs and five RBIs.

WU fell behind 3-0 in the first game on a homer by David Thirlby with runners at first and third in the second inning. The Bearcats got one run back in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by McGee, who went 2 for 4 during the game and was 6 of 9 on the day.

Two runs in the fourth inning and three in the sixth helped Puget Sound build an 8-2 lead. The sixth inning included three hits for the Loggers and a pair of errors by Willamette. Dakota Resnick brought in two of the runs with a single to left field.

The Bearcats tallied one run in each of the final three innings. Stalker hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth. McGee reached base on an error and later scored on a balk in the sixth. Rowan doubled to center with two outs in the seventh and scored two batters later.

Cameron Duvall threw a complete game for UPS. He struck out four batters and walked none, while moving his record to 3-4. Devin Grindy, who started for Willamette, went 5 2/3 innings and fell to 3-4 with the loss.

Thirlby led the Loggers on offense in the first game. He went 3 for 3, with a homer and a double. He tallied three runs and registered three RBIs. Bloom, McGee and Max Stepan (So., C, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS) each recorded two hits for Willamette.

The Bearcats are scheduled to host a doubleheader with George Fox University on Tuesday, April 14 at John Lewis Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). Willamette and the Bruins were unable to play the games earlier in the season due to the weather.