By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Carl Lawson (Jr., RF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) of Willamette University hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie, and Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) pitched two scoreless innings to end the game, as the Bearcats defeated Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 7-5, on Sunday, Feb. 12. Willamette won the three-game series 2-1 and advanced its overall record to 4-2 on the season, with all six games on the road. The Sagehens fell to 4-2.
Lawson was 2 for 5 at the plate with his two-run double. Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) also went 2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs. Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) hit an RBI single to bring in the tying run two batters before Lawson's go-ahead hit. Fischel was 1 for 4 in the game with a walk and a run. Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS), who scored the tying run on Fischel's single, was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two walks.
Pomona-Pitzer held a slim 9-8 lead in hits and connected on four doubles and a triple, while Lawson's game-winning double was WU's only extra-base hit. Willamette's offense provided timely hits and walked eight times, while the Sagehens received just two walks.
"It was a total team effort today," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "There were lots of contributions from different guys in the lineup. We continue to pitch well. It was great to get another win on the road."
Willamette's four pitchers during the game combined to strike out eight batters. JD Willis (Jr., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) entered the game with one out in the sixth inning and held the Sagehens scoreless in addition to striking out four batters in 1 2/3 innings. He was credited with the win. Verespey tossed the eighth and ninth innings, struck out two batters, and did not allow a hit, while earning his first collegiate save.
Pomona grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. William Kinney singled to start the frace and stole second with one out. He went to third on a groundout by David Bedrosian and scored on a single to center field by Isaac Kim. Nate Jakobs singled and then Caleb Millikan belted a two-run double to right center.
Willamette put up four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Ethan Dunnam (Sr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) received a leadoff walk and went to second on a passed ball. Walker singled to left center to send Dunnam across the plate. Walker stole second and Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) was walked. One out later, a passed ball allowed both runners to advance one base. Walker and Hoffman both scored on a single by Wagner.
Lawson also singled, which advanced Wagner to third. Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) followed with an RBI single to right field, as Wagner scored and Walker moved to second. Pomona-Pitzer escaped further damage two outs later when WU left runners at second and third.
Two runners scored for the Sagehens in the bottom of the sixth. Jakobs batted first in the inning and sent a triple to left field. He scored when Millikan hit a groundout to second base. Jackson Fleming doubled to left field and scored with two outs on a double by Matthew Nishimura.
Willamette's three-run seventh inning followed, as the Bearcats regained the lead. The RBI single by Fischel and the two-RBI double by Lawson were the only hits during the inning, but Walker and Hoffman both walked, and Walker added a stolen base. Walker was on third and Hoffman was at second when Fischel singled through the left side to drive in Walker with the tying run. One out later, Lawson belted his two-run double to put Willamette in front.
The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play by hosting Pacific University in a three-game series at John Lewis Field on Saturday, Feb. 18 and Sunday, Feb. 19. On Saturday, the Bearcats and the Boxers are slated to play a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. (PST). On Sunday, the teams will close out the series with a single game at 12 p.m.
