By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) pitched 6 2/3 innings without allowing a run, and teammate Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) blasted a grand slam homer in the top of the eighth inning, as Willamette University shut out Lewis & Clark College, 7-0, on Sunday, March 20 to complete a three-game sweep of the Pioneers.
Willamette improved its overall record to 12-12, while moving to 7-8 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are in fifth place in the NWC, one game behind Pacific Lutheran University (8-7). Lewis & Clark slipped to 8-15 on the season, 3-9 in the NWC.
Brendan Natuzzi (Fr., RHP, Napa, CA/Justin-Siena HS) of Willamette pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his second save of the season.
The Bearcats limited the Pioneers to just one run in the final 20 innings of the series, and L&C scored only four runs in the three games. On Saturday, WU started the weekend by winning both games of a doubleheader 10-3 and 2-1 in 11 innings.
On Sunday, Gallagher gave up just two hits -- both singles -- and walked three batters. He recorded two strikeouts. Natuzzi followed up by allowing only one hit and one walk -- both with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) reached base on an error by shortstop Tommy Massari. A wild pitch sent Parra to second base and a bunt single by Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) moved Parra to third.
Another wild pitch allowed Conway to reach second before Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) drove in Parra with a single through the left side. Conway scored when Del Prado hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Bearcats remained in front 2-0 until the seventh inning, when Conway singled to left center and scored later in the inning on a single by Mason Fessler (So., 3B/DH, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School). Conway went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey, and then Del Prado walked. Fessler's hit went above third baseman Christian Macdonald, who attempted to make a leaping catch on the play.
With Del Prado at second and Fessler at first, the Pioneers intentionally walked Perry Van Eckhardt (So., CF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS). WU left the bases loaded after L&C starting pitcher John Trupin forced a fly out to shallow center field and groundout to second base.
In the top of the eighth, consecutive singles by Parra, Conway and Bailey loaded the bases once again with one out. Del Prado cleared the runners with his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The grand slam went over the fence in the deepest part of the park, straight-away center, about 395 feet from home plate.
Natuzzi and the WU defense completed the game by continuing to keep L&C off the scoreboard. The Pioneers sent just three batters to the plate in the eighth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Cameron Paton singled to second base with two outs, and Carter Bagley walked, but Connor Eggleston popped up to Conway at second base for the final out.
Del Prado went 1 for 2 with two walks a run and five RBIs for the Bearcats. Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) was 3 for 3 and walked twice, while Conway finished 3 of 5 with three runs scores. Bailey was 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI, and Fessler was 2 for 5.
Willamette outhit Lewis & Clark 14-3. Del Prado's grand slam was the only extra-base hit during the game.
The Bearcats will play at non-conference game at George Fox University on Tuesday, March 20. First pitch in Newberg, Oregon, is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PDT).
