By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) blasted a home run in each game and went 6 for 8 overall, helping Willamette University split a Northwest Conference doubleheader with University of Puget Sound on Sunday, March 13 at Roy Helser Field. The Bearcats won the first game, 8-4, while the Loggers claimed the second game, 8-6.
Willamette ended the twi-night doubleheader with a 9-12 record, including 4-8 in the NWC. Puget Sound moved to 8-11 overall, 6-6 in the NWC.
Eight Bearcats Earn a Hit to Defeat UPS in Game 1
A total of eight Willamette players recorded at least one hit in the first game. Del Prado was 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs. Perry Van Eckhardt (So., CF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) went 2 for 4 and earned one RBI.
Willamette trailed 1-0 after one inning, but took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second. Ty Wyatt (So., INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) opened the inning with a double to center field. Mason Fessler (So., 3B/DH, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) was hit by a pitch. Wyatt and Fessler each advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS).
Del Prado followed with a hit in his first at bat of the day -- a double to rigth field that drove home Wyatt and Fessler. A pair of groundouts ended the threat.
WU increased its lead to 3-1 when Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) singled with two outs in the third inning and eventually scored. He crossed the plate when Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) reached first on a wild pitch on a third strike, which led to catcher Nick Funyak throwing off-target toward first.
Puget Sound created a deadlock on the scoreboard by scoring twice in the sixth inning. Nickolas Alarcio began the stanza by belting a solo home run to left field. One out alter, Ian Hughes also homered to left field.
The Bearcats took the lead for good with three runs in their next at bat. Kyle Paguio (Fr., 3B, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS) led off with a single to center, which chased UPS starter Joshua Zavisubin from the mound. Pagio stole second base off relief pitcher Zak Holcomb, and Janits was hit by a pitch. Del Prado walked, loading the bases.
Holcomb recorded a strikeout to register the first out for the Loggers. Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) singled to center, sending home Paguio with the go-ahead run. Janitz scored on a wild pitch, and Del Prado crossed the plate on a single by Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) to give WU a 6-3 lead.
UPS cut the lead to two runs when Chris Zerio hit a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, went to third on a fly out, and scored on a two-out single to center by Alarcio. Willamette added the game's final two runs in the eighth inning on a solo homer by Del Prado and an RBI double yb Van Eckhardt.
Willamette starter Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) improved to 3-2 with the win. He allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings, while striking out five batters. Clary gave up one run in two innings of work, while Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) pitched a scoreless ninth frame. Zavisubin fell to 0-2 with the loss for Puget Sound.
Loggers Hold Off Bearcats in Game 2
In the second game, Puget Sound broke a scoreless tie with one run in the fifth inning and added three runs in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. The Loggers then held off the Bearcats twice, first holding on when Willamette pulled within 5-4 in the eighth, and then allowing two runs to Willamette in the final inning after taking an 8-4 advantage in the top of the ninth.
The game's first run was scored on a leadoff homer to left field by Hughes in the fifth. In the sixth, Zerio singled up the middle with two outs, and then stole second base. Nick Funyak singled down the left field line to drive in Zerio. Nathan Backes batted next and hit a two-run homer over the left field fence.
Willamette cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, but almost had a big inning.
Bailey walked and then Van Eckhardt hit into a fielder's choice. Bailey was thrown out at second, but a wild throw to first allowed Van Eckhardt to advance to second. Wyatt walked. Clary singled up the middle for an apparent RBI, but Van Eckhardt was thrown out on a close play at the plate. Del Prado singled to right to bring Wyatt home and send Clary to third. Del Prado went to second on a wild pitch. A fly out by Janitz ended the inning.
The Loggers tacked on a run in the seventh and Willamette added a run in the bottom of the inning to pull within 5-2. Willamette's run was scored by Cole Pursell (Fr., C, Oceanside, CA/El Camino HS) on an infield single by Conway.
Clary walked to start the WU half of the eighth inning. Del Prado batted next and smacked a two-run homer to right center. The Loggers escaped the inning without further damage.
Puget Sound secured an 8-4 advantage by scoring three times in the top of the ninth. All three runs crossed the plate on a two-out homer by Zerio. The Bearcats pulled back two runs with two outs in their final at bat, as Clary hit an RBI double and Del Prado provided an RBI single. Relief pitcher Kian Kurokawa struck out Janitz -- the potential tying run -- to end the game.
UPS starter Eric Cripsell (2-2) allowed just one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. Kurokawa, the third pitcher for the Loggers, tossed the final two innings to record his third save despite allowing four runs. Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) pitched the first 6 1/3 innings for WU and dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
Del Prado finished the second game 4 for 5 with a run and four RBIs. Conway was 2 for 4 with an RBI, while Clary went 2 for 4 with two runs and one RBI. Zerio, was 4 of 5 for Puget Sound with tow runs and three RBIs. He went 6 for 10 during the doubleheader.
Up Next for the Bearcats
Willamette is slated to play a three-game NWC series at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, next weekend. The Bearcats and the Pioneers will play two games on Saturday, March 19, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). They will complete the series with one game on Sunday, March 20 at 12 p.m.
