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

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University baseball team will battle crosstown rival Corban University in a non-conference game at John Lewis Field on Tuesday, March 24. Game time is set for 3 p.m. (PDT). It is the first meeting of the season between the Bearcats and the Warriors.

Willamette enters the game with a 16-4 overall record, including 9-4 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats lead the NWC, with Pacific Lutheran University (10-5) and Whitworth University (8-4) tied for second place. Corban is 15-15 with a 4-4 record in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

This past weekend the Bearcats swept a three-game NWC series from Lewis & Clark College. WU took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 21, winning 8-2 and 9-0. On Sunday, March 22, the Bearcats put across six runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth to rally from a 3-2 deficit on their way to a 14-3 victory.

WU pounded out 40 hits and scored 31 runs against the Pioneers, while holding L&C to a total of five runs in the three games. The offensive success over the weekend elevated Willamette to a .288 team batting average for the season. Willamette's opponents have a .254 batting average.

Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) continues to top the Willamette batting chart with a .375 average and a team-high four home runs. He has 24 hits in 64 at bats, to go along with 19 RBIs and 14 walks. He owns a solid .625 slugging percentage and leads the team with a .506 on-base percentage. He has registered 183 putouts at first base.

Troy Conway (Fr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS), who hit .571 (8 for 14) in the series with L&C, is batting .355 for the season. He has belted four doubles and has scored 15 runs. He is 6 of 6 on stolen bases.

Third on the team in batting average is Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) at .323 (21 of 65) with 16 runs, five doubles and 11 RBIs. He has received 10 walks and is tied for first on the team with five sacrifice bunts.

Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) is hitting .316 (24 of 76) and ranks first with 21 RBIs. He has recorded five doubles and is tied with Koon for first on the tam with 17 runs. Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) follows with a .308 average, 11 runs and 11 RBIs. He has achieved 117 putouts and eight assists as the team's primary catcher.

The Bearcat pitching staff holds a 3.03 team earned run average that ranks second in the NWC.

Peter Hoffman (Sr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) leads the starters with a 1.50 ERA and is 3-0 on the season. Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) owns a 2.83 ERA and is 4-1 on the mound, while Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) has a 3.30 ERA and a 3-2 record. Tyler Olson (Sr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) is 2-0 with a 4.20 ERA.

Willamette pitchers have struck out 140 batters in 181 innings. Watt leads the way with 42 strikeouts to rank second in the NWC. Hoffman has contributed 28 strikeouts, while Loar has struck out 24 batters. Olson has attained 14 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.

Corban is hitting .289 as a team, led by Marc Gallegos (Sr., 2B/OF) at .414 (24 of 58). Gallegos has played in 17 games, and has produced 12 runs and 16 RBIs. Peter Martin (Sr., 1B) is batting .354 (34 of 96) and is tied for the team lead with 21 runs scored. He has driven in 15 runs and has belted six doubles.

Stockton Taylor (Sr., INF) has provided Corban with a .340 batting average and a team-leading 20 RBIs. He has pounded out seven doubles. Nic Coffman (Jr., UT/RHP) is tied for first on the team with 21 runs. He is hitting .324 with four doubles, two triples and a team-high four home runs. He has registered 19 RBIs and has walked a team-high 12 times.

Daniel Orr (Sr., 1B/OF) leads the Warriors with eight doubles, while Ryan Rosas (So., INF) is third on the squad with 18 runs scored. The Warriors have struck out 143 times and walked 82 times.

Corban has stolen 40 bases on 60 attempts. Hayden Calvert (Jr., OF/LHP) is 9 for 9 on stolen bases. Other leaders on the base paths are Martin (6 for 6), Gallegos (5 for 9) and Rosas (5 for 8). A total of 13 Warriors have recorded at least one stolen base this spring.

The Warriors possess a 4.48 team ERA. Austin Guzzon (Sr., LHP) has a 2.89 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He is 1-2 on the season and leads Corban with 53 strikeouts. Caleb Henry (Fr., RHP) is 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA, while Tony Davidson (Jr., LHP) is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA. Daniel Gober (Jr., RHP) has contributed a 2-0 record while earning a 3.79 ERA.

After taking on Corban, the Bearcats will prepare for a Northwest Conference series at Linfield College this weekend. The Bearcats and the Wildcats will play a doubleheader in McMinnville, Ore., on Saturday, March 28 starting at 12 p.m. (PST). The teams will play one game on Sunday, March 29 also at 12 p.m.