By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
HILLSBORO, Ore. -- Behind a solid start on the mound from freshman Matt Steindorf (RHP Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS), Willamette University held a 1-0 lead from the third inning through the top of the sixth, then pulled away for an 8-3 win over Whitman College on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Ron Tonkin Field. The Bearcats improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Missionaries opened the year at 0-1.
Steindorf pitched eight innings and left the game with the Bearcats up 5-2. He allowed seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts on his way to recording the win. Willamette added three runs in the bottom of the eighth before Whitman scored once in the top of the ninth.
Willamette moved in front when Kyle Paguio (Fr., INF, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS) scored on a single to center field by Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) with one out in the bottom of the third. Paguio walked to start the inning, and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shea Harrison (Sr., OF/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS).
Over the first four innings, Steindorf limited Whitman to just two hits.
In the top of the fifth, the Missionaries earned a pair of hits, but did not score. With one out, Milo Mincin singled to center and Jasper Crusberg registered a base hit to right field. Mincin was picked off at second on a throw from Steindorf to Hagarty. Jake Wishart walked, but Anthony Lim grounded out to end the threat.
The Bearcats used four hits and a pair of walks to score for runs in the sixth inning. Jake Bradley (Fr., OF, Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) hit a leadoff single to right and stole second base. Pinch-runner Cameron Igarashi (So., OF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute), who replaced Bradley at second, scored when Aaron Fong (So., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) singled to center.
Paguio followed with a single through the left side, advancing Fong to third base. Harrison walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice forced out Fong at home on the next play, but Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) walked to bring home Paguio. Ty Wyatt (So., INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) drove in the final two runs of the inning with a single to right field.
Whitman cut the lead to 5-2 in the top of the eighth. Crusberg singled to open the stanza, and reached home on a double by Lim. A fielding error on the play allowed Lim to advance to third base. A single by Lucas Thrun created the second run.
In the bottom of the inning, WU plated three runs for an 8-2 advantage. Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) produced all three RBIs on a two-out double to left field. Harrison, who walked, Hagarty, who reached base on a fielder's choice, and Mason Fessler (So., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), who also walked, scored on the play.
Paguio finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Hagarty went 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI, while Fong was 2 for 4 and recorded one RBIs.
Crusberg led Whitman by going 2 for 4 and scoring one run. Six Missionaries provided one hit apiece. Whitman starting pitcher Robert Maislin allowed just one run and five hits, while striking out six batters, but took the loss for the Missionaries.
Willamette will play at Linfield College later in the day. Game time is set for 5 p.m. (PST) in McMinnville, Oregon.
