By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- University of Puget Sound recorded 17 hits on its way to a 14-4 win over Willamette University in rainy conditions at Roy Helser Field on Saturday, March 12. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed and is now scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday, March 13.
If weather permits, the final game of the three-game series also will be played on Sunday.
With Saturday's win, Puget Sound moved to 7-10 on the season, 5-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette ended the game with an 8-11 record, including 3-7 in the NWC.
After a scoreless first inning, the Loggers plated four runs in the top of the second. UPS took advantage of three hits and three errors during the inning.
Nickolas Alarcio singled to left field to start the inning and advanced to second when the ball was misplayed. James Dejesus hit a bunt single toward third. He went to second on a throwing error by starting pitcher Brandon Nelson (Fr., RHP, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS). Alarcio scored on the play.
Ben Jones earned a single on a bunt that went off the glove of catcher Jacob Parra (Jr., Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) in fair territory. Connor Dunn walked to load the bases. Dejesus scored when all three runners advanced on a wild pitch. One out later, Layne Croney drove in Jones with a sacrifice fly to center field. Dunn scored when Chris Zerio reached base on a throwing error. Nick Funyak struck out to end the inning.
Willamette cut the lead to 4-2 by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.
With one out, Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) and Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) walked. With two outs, both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch. Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) reached on a throwing error by Dunn at shortstop, as Clary and Del Prado crossed the plate. Parra received the third walk of the inning, but UPS pitcher Collin Maier earned a strikeout to end the threat.
Puget Sound extended the lead to 7-2 with three runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth. In the fifth, Dejesus hit an RBI single and Dunn drove in two runs with a double down the left field line. In the sixth, Nathan Backes and Alarcio recorded back-to-back RBI doubles.
The Loggers continued to pull away with four runs in the eighth and one run in the ninth. The game's final run was scored by Aaron Fong (So., SS, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette. Fong opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk and later scored with two outs on a throwing error.
Willamette finished with a total of six hits. Perry Van Eckhardt (So., CF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Janitz was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Dejesus was 4 of 4 for Puget Sount with three runs and two RBIs. Alarcio went 4 for 5 with one double, while scoring three runs and achieving two RBIs. Backes was 3 for 4 with three runs, two doubles and an RBI. Dunn led all players by driving in three runs.
Maier improved to 3-2 with the win. He allowed two runs and two hits in five complete innings. He recorded seven strikeouts and allowed four walks. Nelson dropped to 1-3 with the loss, after allowing six runs in 4 1/3 innings. He recorded five strikeouts and had two walks.
