By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
REDLANDS, Calif. -- Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) and Drew Baskin (So., 2B, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) each hit a double for Willamette University, but the Bearcats lost the final game of a three-game series to the University of Redlands, 7-1 in seven innings, on Sunday, Feb. 5 at The Yard. Willamette won the series 2-1 to start the Bearcats' season. Redlands ended the weekend at 2-2, including a season-opening win over Central Washington University on Friday.
Willamette took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, when Walker doubled to start the game, went to second on a flyout by Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS), and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS). Redlands moved in front with three runs in the bottom of the first, then added a run in the second innings and scored three runs in the third. Both teams were held scoreless after the third inning.
Redlands collected four hits in the bottom of the first. With one out, Esteban Nakashima belted a triple into left center. Nakashima scored on a single by Jared Anderson. Two more singles led to Anderson crossing the plate. Max Clark scored later in the inning to give Redlands a 3-1 lead. In the second stanza, Patrick Perez hit a leadoff single, went to second on a passed ball, moved to third when Will Cell flied out, and on a groundout by Luke De Vries.
The Bulldogs plated three runs in the third inning. Clark smacked a solo homer to left field with one out. With two outs, Kaiya Saito reached first base on an infield error and went to second on a single by Sean McCance. Perez was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Cell provided a two-run single to left, as Saito and McCance scored.
UR starting pitcher Nathan Buchan tossed six innings and limited Willamette to three hits. In addition to Walker's leadoff double in the first inning and Baskin's two-out double in the fifth, the Bearcats also received a single from Hoffman in the sixth. Buchan struck out two batters and allowed one walk.
Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) pitched the first 2 2/3 innings for the Bearcats and took the loss. EJ McGrew (Fy., LHP, Oakland, CA/St. Mary's College Prep) threw the next 2 1/3 innings. McGrew struck out three batters while holding Redlands to no runs and two hits. Pruitt Spritzer (Sr., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) tossed a hitless sixth inning and had one strikeout and one walk.
Clark was 2 of 3 for UR with his solo homer and two runs scored. Nakashima went 2 for 4 with a triple and scored one run. Cell led the Bulldogs with two RBIs.
Willamette is scheduled to take on Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) in two games on Saturday, Feb. 11 and one game on Sunday, Feb. 12. The doubleheader on Saturday is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PST). The single game on Sunday also is set for an 11 a.m. start.
