By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University fell to Linfield College 9-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at John Lewis Field on Friday, March 25, but the Bearcats won the second game 5-4 to split the twinbill in Northwest Conference action. Mason Fessler (So., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) belted a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie in the second game.
The Bearcats ended the day at 13-13 on the season, 8-9 in the NWC. Linfield moved to 14-12 overall, 6-8 in the conference. Willamette and the Wildcats will complete the series with one game on Saturday, March 26, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).
Cunningham Pitches Complete Game for Linfield
In the opener, Linfield pitcher Cason Cunningham tossed a complete game, limiting the Bearcats to just three hits. He allowed only one run, while striking out six batters and giving up two walks. Cunnngham improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Wildcats charged into the lead with three runs in the top of the first. Finn McMichael reached base on a fielding error at first to start the game. One out later, Eric Lawson hit a single to right center. Both runners scored on a double down the left field line by Ben Andrews. With two outs, Ryan Ross drove home Andrews with a double near the right field line.
Linfield maintained a 3-0 lead until the top of the fifth, when the Wildcats tacked on a run. McMichael reached first on a throwing error at shortstop, and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Scott Hilpert. McMichael scored on a single by Lawson.
Hilpert connected for a two-run homer to left field in the seventh inning to give Linfield a 6-0 lead. Hilpert added another two-run homer in the ninth inning. Ben Arata drove in Linfield's final run of the game on a sacrifice fly later in the stanza.
Willamette got on the scoreboard in its last at bat on the strength of a leadoff double by Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) and a double one out later by Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS).
Just one of the first four runs against Bearcat starter Brandon Nelson (Fr., RHP, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS) was earned. He pitched seven innings and gave up six runs overall (three earned). He struck out eight batters and allowed no walks. Nelson moved to 2-5 on the season.
Fessler's Homer Provides Winning Run
The solo home run by Fessler in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Willamette the final lead in a hard-fought battle in the second game. Neither team led by more than one run except for Linfield's 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Hilper singled for Linfield to begin the game. After Lawson lined out to left field, Andrews smacked a two-run homer to center.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, Bailey pounded his first collegiate home run over the left field fence. Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) followed with a single, and Fessler doubled to put runners at the corners. Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) drove the ball with power on the ground past third base for a two-run double and a 3-2 lead.
Linfield plated a run in the second and took the lead with a run in the third. In the second, John Carroll hit a leadoff double, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by Brady Rediger. In the third, Hilpert singled and eventually scored on a two-out single by Ryan Pladson.
Willamette scored the tying run with two outs in the fifth inning when Fessler, Clary and Ty Wyatt (So., DH, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) hit consecutive singles to bring Fessler across the plate.
Andrews of Linfield started the sixth inning with a double to right center. A sacrifice attempt by Pladson was fielded by Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) and Andrews was thrown out at third. A bit later, Pladson was picked of at first, and Kekoa Kaulukukui fouled out.
Steindorf found a way out of a big jam in the seventh. The inning began with a single by Carroll, a sacrifice bunt by Rediger, and a walk to David Mason. A wild pitch advanced runners to second and third, before McMichael walked. Steindorf struck out Hilpert and Lawson to leave the bases loaded.
Del Prado grounded out to start the bottom of the seventh. Fessler batted next and crushed the ball over the left field fence for his fourth home run of the season.
WU was still leading 5-4 when Rediger started the top of the ninth with a single up the middle for Linfield. Mason hit a sacrifice bunt, and McMichael grounded out. With the tying run at third, Janitz, playing at shortstop, made an all-out diving catch several yards onto the grass and between the mound and second base, as Hilpert hit into the final out.
Steindorf upped his record to 4-2. He allowed 10 hits and four runs, while striking out three batters. Closer Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) earned his third save of the year and is now third on WU's all-time list with 10 saves. Linfield reliever Dylan Peters fell to 0-2 with the loss.
Fessler was 3 for 3 with three runs and an RBI. He registered three-fourths of the cycle with a single, double and home run. Clary went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
Andrews of Linfield finished 3 for 4, and also produced three-fourths of the cycle, while scoring a run and earning two RBIs. Hilpert, Pladson and Carroll each contributed two hits for the Wildcats.
