By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Senior catcher Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) smacked two home runs -- including a 3-run shot in the first inning -- to lead Willamette University to an 8-4 victory over Whitman College in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27 at John Lewis Field. Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) also homered for the Bearcats in the opener. In the second game, Whitman College scored three runs on two homers in the top of the seventh to turn a slim 3-2 advantage into a 6-2 win for the Blues. Both teams are 1-1 on the season. They will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 28 starting at 11 a.m. (PST).
In the opener, Whitman took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs and David Johnson at second base, Kevin Nakamura hit an RBI double to right field. Nakamura scored when Leo Rivera batted next and reached base on a throwing error from second.
Willamette countered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 5-2 advantage. Tyler Vandemark (Sr., LF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) doubled to left center with one out. After Layton Wagner (So., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) walked, Vandemark went to third on a fly out to right field. Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., UT, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) drove in Vandemark with an infield single up the middle, as Wagner advanced to second. Hoffman followed with a single down the left field line to drive in Wagner. Nelsen completed the five-run surge with his 3-run homer to center field.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third inning with Hoffman's two-out solo home run to left field. The score remained the same until Nelsen hit his second home of the game to lead-off Willamette's half of the sixth inning.
Whitman pulled within 6-4 by scoring one run in the seventh inning and one run in the eighth. In the seventh, Teague Conder scored on a bases-loaded walk by Brett Williams. Earlier in the seventh, the umpires ruled that Ben Parker beat the toss from second to shortstop on a fielder's choice that loaded the bases with one out. Drew Vannaman struck out before Williams walked. In the eighth, Garrett Runyan belted a lead-off home run to left field.
The game's final run was scored in the bottom of the eighth by Hoffman, who walked to start the inning, then went to second one out later on a balk when the pitcher slipped. A dropped ball by the left fielder allowed Hoffman to reach third. Samuel Daly (So., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) brought Hoffman home with a single through the left side.
A double by Parker and a bunt single toward the mound by Jerick Nomura opened the ninth inning for the Blues, but Vannaman lined into a 4-3 double play. After Williams walked, Johnson grounded to third for the final out.
Wagner started and pitched six innings for the Bearcats, as he moved to 1-0 on the season. He earned six strikeouts and allowed just two hits, two walks, and two runs (one earned). Mason Cook pitched the final three innings to earn a save. Whitman starter Travis Craven allowed 11 hits and seven runs in seven innings. He fell to 0-1.
The Bearcats outhit the Blues 12-6 in the first game. Nelsen went 2 of 4 with two homers, two runs, and four RBIs. Hoffman was 2 for 3 with a homer, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Vandemark finished 2 of 4 with two doubles. Also earning two hits for Willamette were Daly and Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS). Parker was 2 of 4 with a double for Whitman.
Whitman scored once in the third inning and twice in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead in the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings. Parker hit a solo homer with two outs in the third to break the scoreless tie. In the fourth, Nomura provided the Blues with a two-run double to center field that drove in Rivera and Conder. Willamette pushed back within 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
With two outs, Jonny Suchor (So., UT, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) singled to shortstop and gave way to Little as a pinch-runner. Eric Waldichuk (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) singled through the left side and Ryan Whithorn entered the game as a pinch-runner at first base. A single to left center by Ben Setlak (Sr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) brought Little across the plate. With two strikes on Nelsen as a pinch-hitter, Little broke for second base and was eventually caught in a run-down. Whithorn scored on the play before the Blues recorded the out.
The Blues added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. All three runs were scored with two outs. Nakamura singled for the first hit of the inning, and then Runyan blasted his second home run of the doubleheader to give Whitman a 5-2 margin. Johnson batted next and homered to left field.
Dexter Aichele went 5 2/3 innings on the mound as Whitman's starter, as he grabbed a 1-0 record. Aichele struck out three batters and allowed six hits, but gave up only three hits in the first five innings. Reliever Tristan Kalnins registered a save for the Blues. Willamette starter Ben Whitten (Grad., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) fell to 0-1 with the loss. He allowed five hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings while recording three strikeouts.
Whitman attained a 10-6 advantage in total hits during the second game. Nakamura was 3 for 3 with a run scored. Rivera was 2 for 3, hit a double, and also scored a run. For the Bearcats, Waldichuk was 3 for 3 and Setlak was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Suchor was 1 for 3.