NEWBERG, ORE. -- Jarrid Summers (Jr., RHP, Boise, ID/Boise HS) threw a complete game six-hitter and Willamette University overcame an early 4-0 deficit, as the Bearcats defeated George Fox University, 9-6, in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 16 at Morse Field. George Fox won the first game, 8-0, behind a six-hitter from pitcher Nick Hedgecock.

Willamette split the four-game series with the Bruins. The Bearcats ended the weekend with an overall record of 9-8, including 5-3 in the Northwest Conference. GFU finished the series with a 12-4 record, 9-2 in the NWC.

After shutting out the Bearcats in the opener, George Fox scored four runs in the first inning of the nightcap. The inning began with a single to center field by Pat Bailey. Dan Winterstein followed with a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a fielder's choice, but Bailey beat the throw to second. A bunt single loaded the bases and Ryan Fobert walked to force in the game's first run. The inning also included two sacrifice flies and an RBI double by Derek Aldrich.

WU rallied to take a 5-4 lead after scoring twice in the second inning and three times in the fourth. T.C. Lee (Fr.. OF, Lafayette, Ca/Acalanes HS) walked to open the second stanza and later scored on a single by Max Stepan (Fr., C, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS). David Tufo (Jr., 3B, San Bruno, CA/Burlingame HS), who also walked during the inning, scored on a double down the left field line by Michael Rierson (So., DH/OF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS).

In the fourth inning, two hits and two errors led to Willamette's three runs. Tufo reached base on an error and later scored the first run. Sean Anderson (Sr., CF, Klamath Falls, OR/Klamath Union HS) drove in the final two runs with a double to right center.

George Fox tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning at 5-5, when two errors on a pick-off play at second allowed Jason Brown to score. Summers received the first error when he misfired to second. Anderson received the second error when he was unable to grab the loose ball in center field.

The Bearcats moved in front for good following a three-run sixth inning. Rierson and Anderson started the inning with back-to-back singles. An error by relief pitcher Brian Davis advanced the runners to second and third. Both scored on a triple by Doug Bloom (Fr., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS). Bloom scored later in the inning when Colin Young (Sr., RF, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) reached first on a fielding error.

Consecutive doubles for GFU by Aldrich and Brown in the sixth inning cut the lead to 8-6. WU tacked on a run in the top of the seventh, when Ellis Webster (Jr., 2B, Carlsbad, CA/San Dieguito HS) doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Anderson. Kyle Kuenzi dropped the fly ball from Anderson with one out, but the Bearcats were unable to score additional insurance runs.

Summers forced the Bruins into a fly out, a pop-up and a ground out to end the game quickly in the bottom of the seventh. He finished with six strikeouts and four walks, while improving to 2-1 on the season. Kyle Johnson, who pitched 3 1/3 innings of middle relief, took the loss for GFU and fell to 1-1.

Anderson, Stepan and Rierson each registered two hits in Willamette's win. Anderson led the Bearcats with three RBIs during the game. Bloom added two RBIs, while Webster and Tufo scored twice. Aldrich was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI for George Fox.

In the first game, Hedgecock held Willamette to six singles and no extra-base hits. He registered four strikeouts and gave up three walks, while overcoming three errors by the GFU defense. Willamette also made three errors.

The Bruins plated four runs in the fourth inning and put up four more runs in the sixth. In the fourth, Todd Siler drove in a run on a fielder's choice and one run crossed the plate on a single by Bailey. Two other runs scored on Willamette errors,

In the sixth, Aldrich provided the Bruins with an RBI single and Bailey brought home another run with a triple. The final two runs of the game scored on a home run to center field by Winterstein.

Hedgecock upped his record to 2-0 with the win. Tye Sundlee (Sr., RHP, Yakima, WA/West Valley HS), who threw all but one-third of an inning for Willamette, fell to 1-3 with the loss. Sundlee earned four strikeouts and gave up just one walk, but allowed 11 hits.

GFU achieved a 13-6 edge in hits in the opener. Four Bruins each registered two hits during the game. Young went 2 for 4 for Willamette and was the only Bearcat with more than one hit.

Kyle Stalker (Jr., 1B, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS) of Willamette, who went 0 for 3 in the first game, was 1 for 2 and walked three times in the second game. His home run total remained at 12 for the season.

Willamette will host Pacific Lutheran University in a four-game Northwest Conference series at John Lewis Field next weekend. The first two games will be played on Friday, March 21, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The final two games are slated for Saturday, March 22, beginning at 12 p.m. (PDT).