By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University and Whitworth College will compete in a three-game Northwest Conference series this weekend in Spokane, Washington. The Bearcats and the Pirates will play a single game on Saturday, April 18, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday, April 19. Action will begin at 12 p.m. (PDT) each day.

At the start of the series, Willamette is 20-13 on the season with a 10-11 record in the NWC. Whitworth has a 22-13 record, including 13-8 in the NWC.

The Bearcats need to sweep the Pirates in order to have a shot at qualifying for the NWC Tournament. With a sweep, Willamette and Whitworth -- plus as many as two other teams -- would be tied for third or fourth in the standings. The final one or two berths into the tournament could be determined by a tie-breaker.

Willamette has clinched a winning overall record regardless of this weekend's results. It is the fifth time in the last seven seasons that WU has won 20 or more games. If WU wins at least two games against Whitworth, the Bearcats will clinch a .500 record or better in conference play for the sixth time in seven years.

Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) leads the Bearcats and ranks third in the NWC with a .376 batting average (41 of 109). He is first in the NWC with 10 home runs. He has scored a team-high 29 runs and leads Willamette with 34 RBIs. His .716 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage both rank first in the conference.

Koon tops the Willamette offense with 19 walks on the season. On defense, has made 297 putouts at first base while achieving a .990 fielding percentage.

Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) is batting .333 (41 of 123) for the Bearcats. He has scored 24 times, while recording 11 doubles and 23 RBIs. Troy Conway (Fr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) owns a .310 average with 17 runs scored. Gordie Clary (Jr., RF/RHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) is hitting .300 with 12 runs, seven doubles and 12 RBIs.

Mason Fessler (Fr., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) has contributed a .299 average and six doubles. He has driven in 16 runs and has received 14 walks. Rolenn Himuro (Sr., CF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) has a .279 batting average with 23 runs and 11 walks. He leads Willamette with 10 sacrifice bunts.

Willamette's three primary starting pitchers all hold earned run averages under 4.00 this season. Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) leads the way with a 3.59 ERA. He is 4-3 with 34 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. He has limited opponents to a .267 batting average.

Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) is 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in 68 2/3 innings. He ranks first on the team and is tied for fourth in the NWC with 54 strikeouts. He has allowed just nine walks. Peter Hoffman (Sr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) owns a 3.86 ERA and a 4-2 record. He has registered 47 strikeouts and 10 walks in 56 innings.

Relief pitcher Andrew Koumelis (Jr., LHP, Roseville, CA/Jesuit HS/Sacramento City College) is 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA and three saves in 11 appearances. Lucas Still (Fr., RHP, Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers HS) has provided a 2-1 record, two saves and a 2.38 ERA in 10 appearances. Willamette has a 3.91 team ERA.

Whitworth is batting .301 as a team this spring. Jeremy Druffel (Jr., IF/OF) leads the way with a .372 average (48 of 129). He ranks first on the team with 13 doubles, while scoring 31 runs and recording 24 RBIs. He leads the Pirates with nine stole bases on 16 attempts.

Joshua Davis (Sr., C/1B) follows with a .370 batting average (50 of 135) and a team-high 36 runs scored. He also leads Whitworth with 33 RBIs and nine home runs. He has pounded out 12 doubles and has a .689 slugging percentage. Joel Condreay (Fr., IF) is hitting .353 with 18 runs and eight doubles. He is 7 of 8 on stolen bases.

JT PHelan (Fr., OF/LHP) has provided the Pirates with a .329 average. Matthew Nelson (So., RHP/UT) has a .319 batting average with five doubles and four home runs.

In last week's conference games, Whitworth won two of three contests against Pacific University. Starting pitchers for the Pirates were Dan Scheibe (Sr., RHP), Spencer Ansett (Sr., LHP) and Cory Mack (Sr., LHP).

Scheibe won the opener, a 3-1 victory, by going six innings and allowing just two hits. He struck out 11 batters and allowed two walks. In the second game, which Whitworth took 8-2, Ansett was the winner after throwing eight innings, striking out seven batters and limiting the Boxers to eight hits.

Mack took the loss in the third game, which Pacific won 4-2. He tossed 7 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and just one walk, but gave up three runs.

For the season, Scheibe is 7-2 with a 1.563 ERA and an NWC-leading 80 strikeouts. He has thrown 60 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .200 batting average. Ansett is 4-1 and owns a 2.47 ERA. He has registered 28 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. Mack is 3-3 with a 5.87 ERA in 46 innings. he has struck out 33 batters.

Reliever Carson Blumenthal (Sr., LHP/OF) has recorded all six of Whitworth's saves. He possesses a 1.40 ERA and a 3-0 record in 15 appearances. Blumenthal has accumulated 21 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings pitched.