By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University baseball team earned a 3-1 record during the first weekend of competition Feb. 5-7, defeating three Northwest Conference foes in a series of non-conference games. One of the reasons the Bearcats were successful was the solid play of three freshmen who started on the mound for Willamette.
In the season opener against 17th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Feb. 5, freshman Brandon Nelson (RHP, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS) pitched six innings and allowed six hits and one run, while recording one strikeout and giving up one walk. Fifty-two of his 79 pitches were strikes.
Willamette scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first, and Nelson preserved the 1-0 lead until the Lutes tied the score in the top of the sixth. Nelson did not receive the pitching decision, but the Bearcats broke the 1-1 tie with two runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth on their way to a 4-1 victory.
Freshman Matt Steindorf (RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) started on the mound less than 12 hours later in Willamette's second game, as the Bearcats took on Whitman College on Saturday, Feb. 6. Steindorf went eight innings, recording two strikeouts and walking just one batter. He allowed seven hits and two runs. Willamette led 5-0 before Whitman scored twice in the top of the eighth.
The Bearcats replied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth and eventually won the game 8-3. Steindorf was credited with the pitching win.
Another freshman, Nathan Gilman (RHP, Chino Hills, CA/ Diamond Ranch HS) started for the Bearcats in the fourth game of the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 7 against Lewis & Clark. He pitched into the fourth inning and walked a total of six batters, but showed great competitiveness by getting out of jams in each of the first three innings.
With WU leading 4-0 in the bottom of the first, Gilman walked three batters, but also recorded a strikeout. He forced L&C to leave the bases loaded by forcing Connor Eggleston to line into a double play at shortstop. In the second inning, Gilman walked two batters and added one strikeout. He escaped the inning with a 5-4-3 double play.
Gilman allowed a single and a walk in the third inning, but also recorded two strikeouts and a fly out to keep the Pioneers scoreless. Willamette added three runs in the top of the fourth for a 7-0 lead, before Gilman was credited with giving up two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Bearcats won the game 8-3.
Nelson, Steindorf and Gilman combined for 17 innings of work and a solid 2.65 earned run average over the weekend. Nelson led the starters with a 1.50 ERA, while Steindorf held opponents to a .233 batting average and Gilman tied for the team lead with three strikeouts.
"We identified the three of them as high-impact players during the recruiting process," Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "Their efforts as Bearcats so far, including fall practice, prepared them to show quality in their first outings of the season."
The Bearcats will return to action with four games this weekend, starting with a match-up against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, Feb. 12 in Claremont, California. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (PST).
Willamette will battle Occidental College in a double-header in Eagle Rock, California, on Saturday, Feb. 13, starting at 11 a.m. The Bearcats and the Tigers will play a single game on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 12 p.m.
