By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Ty Wyatt (So., DH/3B, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) smacked a three-run homer in the second inning, and Perry Van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) pounded a solo home run to open a five-run eighth inning, as Willamette University outscored George Fox University, 13-6, on Sunday, Feb. 28 in the third game of their Northwest Conference series. Willamette won the series two games to one.
The Bearcats improved to 8-7 on the season, 3-3 in the Northwest Conference. GFU fell to 8-6, including 4-2 in the NWC.
Willamette held a 7-1 lead following Wyatt's home run, but the Bearcats owned a slimmer 7-5 margin when the teams waited out a 1-hour, 10-minute rain delay after 4 1/2 innings. WU increased the margin to three runs, 8-5, when Austin Hagarty (Sr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) scored on a two-out single by Mason Fessler (So., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) in the sixth inning.
GFU added a run in the top of the seventh, before Willamette scored five times in the bottom of the eighth. Van Eckhardt's homer was one of three hits in the inning. The Bearcats also benefited from two errors during the stanza. Fessler drove in two of the runs with a single to left field.
Relief pitcher Gordie Clary (Sr., LHP/RF, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) threw 2 2/3 innings and earned the win after entering the game with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth. Clary allowed one run and three hits, while improved to 1-1 on the season. He struck out four batters and gave up two walks.
Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) registered his second save of the year after pitching the final three innings. Watt struck out two batters and allowed no walks. The Bruins earned only one hit while he was pitching.
Although the game featured a total of 19 runs and 24 hits, the first inning set an important tone.
In the top of the first, George Fox filled the bases on a one-out single by Gabe Louthan, a single with two outs by Jacob Woehler, and a walk issued to Riley McKean. WU starter Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) got out of the inning by striking out Clay Mott.
In Willamette's half of the inning, the Bearcats loaded the bases with one out on three consecutive walks. The walks were earned by Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS), Fessler and Wyatt. A fielder's choice forced out Bailey at the plate, while Tyler Janitz (Fr., INF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) went to first.
Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) came through for the Bearcats with a two-run double to left center to score Fessler and Wyatt. Shea Harrison (Sr., RHP/OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) drove in Janitz with an infield single to shortstop. Del Prado scored on a single by Van Eckhardt.
GFU scored once in the second inning, but left three runners on base despite two hits and two Willamette errors. AJ Valencia brought in Kadyn Nannini from third base with one out by hitting an RBI single. Back-to-back fly outs ended the threat.
After WU increased its advantage to 7-1, the Bruins earned the next four runs. Two runners crossed the plate when Nannini belted a home run in the third inning. Woehler connected for a two-RBI double in the fourth.
The Bruins outhit Willamette 14-10, but GFU finished with 13 runners left on base, compared to just six for the Bearcats. Fessler was 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs. Van Eckhardt went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs, while Del Prado was 2 for 5, scored once and drove in three runs. Eight Bearcats scored at least one run.
Woehler led George Fox by going 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Valencia, Louthan, Connor Newell and Caylen Clardy each registered two hits.
The Bearcats will take on Pacific Lutheran University in an three-game NWC series on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 in Parkland, Washington. The teams will play two games on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. (PST). On Sunday, the Bearcats and the Lutes will conclude the series with one game at 12 p.m.
