By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University put up a ferocious rally to overcome an 8-3 deficit by scoring six runs in the team's final at bat in the ninth inning, as the Bearcats claimed a 9-8 win over Whitman College in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 28 at John Lewis Field. Ethan Fischel (Jr., INF, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) provided a walk-off single to center field that scored Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) with the winning run. In the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings, Whitman edged the Bearcats, 3-2. Both teams are 2-2 on the season.
Whitman held a 5-3 advantage entering the ninth inning of the first game, but tacked on three scores to increase the Blues' lead to five runs. Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) smacked a solo home run for Willamette, his third homer of the weekend, to start the bottom of the inning. A bit later, Samuel Daly (So., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) and Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) each provided WU with an RBI single. The next two runs scored on a double by Wagner. Fischel hit the game-winning single with just one out in the inning.
Earlier in the game, the Bearcats took a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs in the third stanza. Wagner hit an RBI double during the innings, while Fischel and Nelsen added RBI singles. Whitman tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning on the strength of a 3-run homer by Kevin Nakamura.
After plating one run in the seventh and another run in the eighth, the Blues appeared to have the game in hand when they scored three times in the ninth. The final three runs for the Blues were scored by Kawamura, Leo Rivera, and David Johnson.
Fischel was 3 for 4 at the plate in the opener for the Bearcats. He scored one run and recorded two RBIs. Wagner, Nelsen, Daly and Little each added two hits. Wagner led Willamette with three RBIs. For Whitman, Johnson was 3 of 4 with a double and a run scored, while Nakamura went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, three runs, and three RBIs.
Willamette relief pitcher Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP/OF, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) pitched the final out in the ninth inning and improved to 1-0 on the season. The Bearcats struck out six batters, including five earned by starter Justin Miller (Sr./Jr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC), who tossed the first six innings. Tristan Kalnins fell to 0-1 with the loss for Whitman.
The Bearcats grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the second game. Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., UT, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) was hit by a pitch with one out. He scored when Daly followed with a double to left center. Daly scored on a single by Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS).
Whitman tied the game in the fourth inning. Both runs scored on a single to right center by Matthew Cho. The Blues moved in front, 3-2, in the top of the fifth. With runners at first and third and two outs, Rivera singled to left, driving in Jerick Nomura with the go-ahead run.
Willamette almost tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Little doubled with two outs and Wagner hit a single to left field, but Little was thrown out at the plate. In the bottom of the seventh, Daley singled to shortstop with one out and was at second base with two outs, but Whitman pitcher Mateus Conaway forced pinch-hitter Tassos Foster (Fy., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS) to ground out.
Conaway pitched all seven innings for the Blues. He struck out four batters and did not allow a walk. He gave up a total of six hits, as he improved to 1-0. WU starter Eric Waldichuk (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) went 4 2/3 innings and allowed all three runs (two earned), while striking out six batters and finishing with three walks. Reliever JD Willis (Fy., Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) added three strikeouts and two walks.
Little and Daly of Willamette each hit a double for the only extra-base hits of the second game. Daly went 2 for 3 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Rivera was 2 of 3 for Whitman, while Nomura went 2 of 4. Cho led all players with two RBIs.
Willamette will host Linfield University in a four-game non-conference series on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7. Each day will feature a doubleheader with a 9-inning game at 11 a.m. (PDT) followed by a 7-inning game.