By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Whitman College rallied from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the 12th inning to defeat Willamette University, 7-6, in the first game of a doubleheader at Borleske Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 21. The Bearcats earned a split of the doubleheader with a 6-3 victory over the Missionaries in the second game.
The first game of the twinbill completed a three-game Northwest Conference series between the teams, while the second half of the doubleheader was a non-conference game. Whitman ended the day at 2-1 in the NWC, with Willamette at 1-2. The Missionaries fell to 3-9 overall following the second game, while the Bearcats evened their overall record at 6-6.
Willamette and Whitman have played each other five times this season. The Bearcats are 3-2 against the Missionaries.
Opener Goes 12 Innings, before Missionaries Win
In the first game, the Missionaries put up two runs in the bottom of the third on two hits and two errors. Adrian Vela drove in the first run with a single to center field. Lucas Thrun also attempted to score on the play, but he was thrown out at the plate. The second run scored when Paul Heywood reached base on an error.
The Missionaries took a 3-0 lead with a run in the fourth. Nick Johnson, who singled to start the inning, went on to score on a groundout by Braden Hussey.
Willamette battled back with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
In the fifth, Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) singled, went to second on a sacrifice by Shea Harrison, moved to third on a single by Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC), and scored when Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) grounded out.
Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) singled to start the sixth inning, and Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) provided a sacrifice bunt. Clary singled to left field to score Janitz. Parra smacked a two-out double to right field to drive in Clary.
Joseph Zimmer doubled for Whitman and later scored in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Milo Mincin. Willamette equalized the scoreboard at 4-4 in the top of the eighth, when Del Prado walked and eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats left two runners on base in the eighth inning. WU also stranded two runners in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings. In the 11th, the Bearcats had the bases loaded with no outs, but a fielder's choice led to an out at home plate, and the Missionaries ended the inning with a double play on a line drive to second base.
Even so, WU tallied two runs in the top of the 12th for a 6-4 advantage. Parra singled, Conway was hit by a pitch, and Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) walked. Parra reached home on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Paguio (Fr., INF, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS).
Aaron Fong (So., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) walked to reload the bases. With two outs, Del Prado was hit by a pitch to force Conway across the plate. An infield pop-up ended the threat with the bases loaded. Willamette left 19 runners on base during the game.
In the bottom of the 12th, Tyler Lewis singled to center and Court Osborn earned an infield single. A sacrifice moved the runners to second and third. After Jake Wishart struck out for the second out of the inning, Vela and Cole Edwards walked, allowing Tyler to score. Zimmer followed with a two-run single to left field, as Whitman won 7-6.
Zimmer was 2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs for the Missionaries. Vela also went 2 for 5, scored once and drove in one run. Parra went 3 for 4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI for Willamette. Del Prado was 2 for 4 with a run, while Clary finished 2 for 6 with two runs and one RBI.
Reliever Patrick Stanton (1-0) received the win for Whitman. Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS), who pitched the 12th inning for the Bearcats, fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Fessler Goes 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs in Game 2
Led by Mason Fessler (So., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), who went 4 for 5 at the plate and drove in four runs, the Bearcats won the second game, 6-3. Three Willamette pitchers combined to limit the Missionaries to just four hits during the game.
Each team plated one run in the first inning. Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) opened the game with a walk. He moved to second on a groundout, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single to left field by Fessler. Alex Behrman hit an infield single to start the bottom of the inning. One out later, Thrun walked. Behrman crossed the plate on a single by Heywood.
The Missionaries took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Osborn walked and Jackson DeStefano was hit by a pitch. Two outs later, Wishart drove in Osborn with a single to center.
Willamette surged in front with three runs in the fifth inning. Jake Bradley (Fr., DH/OF, Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) walked and stole second. Two outs later, he scored when Hagarty reached base on an error by the shortstop. Hagarty stole second and third, and then Bailey walked. Fessler drove in both runners with a single to center, giving WU a 4-2 lead.
Fong singled and Cameron Igarashi (So., OF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) walked to begin the seventh inning. Fong went to third on a double steal and scored when the throw from home plate was off target. Igarashi took second on the play, and went to third on a groundout. Whitman recorded a second out, before Fessler drove in Igarashi with a single to center, as the Bearcats claimed a 6-2 advantage.
Whitman tallied one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough to catch the Bearcats.
Willamette outhit the Missionaries 6-4 during the game. Fessler's four hits led the way, while Bradley and Fong each earned one hit. Hagarty stole two bases and scored two runs. Four Whitman players recorded one hit apiece.
Nathan Gilman (Fr., RHP, Chino Hills, CA/ Diamond Ranch HS) pitched the first four innings for the Bearcats. He gave up three hits and two runs. Harbour Harrison (Fr., RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) went to 1-0 after tossing three innings and allowed just one hit and one run. Nolan Boggini (Fr., RHP, El Dorado Hills, CA/Oak Ridge HS) threw two scoreless and hitless innings to pick up his first save.
Up Nex for Willamette
The Bearcats, who have played all 12 games away from home, will play three games at John Lewis Field next weekend against George Fox University in NWC action. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27 starting at 11 a.m. (PST). On Sunday, Feb. 28, the Bearcats and the Bruins will play one game beginning at 12 p.m.
