By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Brandon Nelson (Fr., RHP, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS) pitched eight shutout innings, and Willamette University escaped a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the ninth, as the Bearcats defeated Whitman College, 4-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Borleske Stadium. Whitman won the second game, 8-6.

Willamette ended the day with a 5-5 overall record, including 1-1 in the NWC. The Missionaries moved to 2-8 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.

Solid Performance by Nelson

Nelson struck out four batters, while allowing nine hits and no walks in his eight innings on the mound. He improved to 1-1 on the season. Robert Maislin, who started for Whitman, allowed three runs -- two earned -- in six innings and fell to 0-3 on the season.

Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) pitched the ninth inning for the Bearcats. Joseph Zimmer singled to start the inning and Paul Heywood walked. Pinch-hitter Nick Johnson flied out to right field. A single by Jasper Crusberg drove in Zimmer with Whitman's only run.

Jake Wishart singled to load the bases and bring the winning run to the plate. Watt got out of the jam by forcing Anthony Lim into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Willamette built its 4-0 lead with single runs in the first, second, fifth and eighth innings. The Bearcats pounded out a total of five doubles.

In the first, Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) belted a leadoff double. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS). One out later, Ty Wyatt (So., DH/1B, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) walked and Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) hit a double, but a groundout ended the inining.

Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) opened the top of the second inning by reaching base on an error at shortstop. Clary eventually scored on a groundout by Conway.

WU held its 2-0 advantage until Bailey doubled and scored in the fifth stanza. He went to third on an error by the pitcher with one out and reached home on a single by Wyatt.

In the top of the eighth, Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) singled. One out later, Perry Van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) reached first on an error by Zimmer at third base. With two outs, Conway provided an RBI single, as Del Prado crossed the plate.

Whitman outhit the Bearcats 12-10 during the first game, but committed three errors while Willamette played error free. Willamette's five doubles were the only extra-base hits.

Conway was 2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs. Wyatt went 2 for 4 with one RBI, while Van Eckhardt was 2 for 3 with a double and was hit by a pitch.

Wishart finished the game 3 of 4 for Whitman. Zimmer, Crusberg and Adrian Vela each recorded two hits.

Missionaries Hold Off Bearcats

In the second game, Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and led 3-1 after 2 1/2 frames. Wyatt smacked a double in the first inning to bring home Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS), who walked, and Bailey, who was hit by a pitch. In the third, Hagarty singled, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey, stole third, and scored on a single by Wyatt.

The Missionaries tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third and took a 4-3 lead with a run in the fourth. Both runs  in the third inning were scored on a single by Vela. Milo Mincin started the fourth stanza with a double and later scored on a balk.

Whitman tacked on three runs in the fifth for a 7-3 advantage. Vela belted a leadoff double, and Lucas Thrun singled. Zimmer was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Vela scored when Paul Heywood hit into a fielder's choice. Thrun scored on a sacrfice fly by Tyler Lewis, and Heywood crossed the plate on a single by Wishart.

Willamette pulled within 7-6 by plating three runs in the top of the seventh, including a pinch-hit, two-run homer by Van Eckhardt with Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) on-base. Del Prado drove in pinch-runner Brendan Natuzzi (Fr., INF, Napa, CA/ Justin-Siena HS) earlier in the inning.

The Missionaries completed the scoring with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Overall, Whitman earned 11 hits, while the Bearcats connected for 10 hits.

Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) started on the mound for Willamette and pitched 6 2/3 innings. He fell to to 1-1 on the season. Evan Giddings (Sr., RHP, El Cerrito, CA/St. Mary's HS) completed the game and struck out two batters, while allowing two hits and no runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Whitman reliever Nick Johnson allowed three runs -- one earned -- over the final 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and gave-up one walk. Johnson is now 1-0 on the season.

For the Missionaries, Vela was 2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs. Mincin finished 2 for 2, scored a run and earned one RBI. Wishart went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Thrun was 2 for 5 and scored once. Vela, Mincin and Zimmer each hit a double.

Wyatt led Willamette by going 2 for 4 with a game-high three RBIs. Hagarty was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Up Next for Willamette

The teams will play two games on Sunday, Feb. 21 starting at 12 p.m. (PST). The first game will complete the three-game NWC series. The second game will be a non-conference game.