By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University catcher Cole Pursell (Sr./Jr., Oceanside, CA/El Camino HS) has been chosen Northwest Conference Baseball Position Player Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in games played on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. Pursell started at catcher in two of Willamette's three non-conference games and helped the Bearcats earn a 5-4 win over University of Puget Sound on Feb. 16 and a 9-8 victory against Linfield College on Feb. 17.

Pursell batted .556 (5 of 9) during the two games, with a .778 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage. He pounded out two doubles, scored four runs and contributed three RBIs. He achieved two or more hits and two or more runs in each game.

In Willamette's 5-4 win over Puget Sound on Saturday, he was 3 of 5 at the plate. He scored two runs and then drove in the tying and winning runs with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Bearcats trailed 4-2 before scoring three runs in their final at bat.

At Linfield on Sunday, Pursell was 2 of 4 with two runs scored and one RBI. During a  four-run rally by the Bearcats in the top of the ninth, he walked and later scored. Willamette battled back from an 8-5 deficit after eight innings.

On defense during the week, Pursell earned 20 putouts and two assists. He did not commit an error. For the season, Pursell owns a .429 batting average and has recorded 37 putouts and two assists on defense.

Willamette, now 3-2 on the season, will begin Northwest Conference play this weekend at Puget Sound. The Bearcats and the Loggers will open the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. (PST) in Tacoma, Washington. Willamette will remain in Tacoma to take on Puget Sound in one game on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 12 p.m.