By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University left fielder Connor Bailey (Jr., San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Baseball Position Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in the Bearcats' three-game series against Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15. The Bearcats swept the Pioneers, winning 16-0 and 12-7 on Saturday and earning a 12-4 triumph on Sunday.
Bailey put together an outstanding weekend. He smacked five home runs and one double, while scoring seven runs and recording 10 RBIs. He batted .538 (7 of 13) with an impressive 1.769 slugging percentage. He also walked twice. On defense, he earned five putouts with no errors.
Over the weekend, Bailey belted two homers in the first game of the series, one in the second game and two in the third game. He earned two or more hits, two or more runs and two or more RBIs in each game. He had four RBIs in both the first game and the third game.
"Connor had a great week at the plate," Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "He was a big reason why the offense was clicking."
Bailey leads NCAA Division III and the NWC with 13 home runs and 105 total bases (4 for a homer, 3 for a triple, etc.). He is tied for third on Willamette single season home run list. His 19 career home runs rank seventh all-time at Willamette.
For the season, Bailey is hitting .367 with 39 runs, 45 RBIs and a .755 slugging percentage. In addition to his home run total, he has pounded out nine doubles and three triples. He has walked 24 times and leads Willamette with a .452 on-base percentage.
The Bearcats are 23-14 on the season, including 15-9 (3rd place) in the NWC. Willamette will compete in the 2018 NWC Baseball Tournament in Tacoma, Washington, this weekend. The Bearcats, who are seeded #3 in the four-team tournament, will take on Linfield College, the #2 seed, in the first round on Friday, April 20 at 3 p.m. (PST) at PLU Field on the Pacific Lutheran University campus. Pacific Lutheran, seeded #1, will take on #4-seeded George Fox University in the other first round game on Friday at 12 p.m. The NWC Tournament will continue on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.