By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- First baseman Ben Andrews of Linfield College went 4 of 5 at the plate, including three doubles, to lead the Wildcats to a 7-3 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, March 26 at John Lewis Field. Linfield won the series two games to one, and improved to 15-12 overall, 7-8 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 13-14, including 8-10 in the NWC.
Willamette's designated hitter, Ty Wyatt (So., Keizer, OR/McNary HS) smacked a solo home run in the third inning that pulled the Bearcats within 3-2.
The Wildcats opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. With one out, Scott Hilpert singled to center. One out later, Andrews hit his first double of the game, a shot to left center that drove in Hilpert.
In the bottom of the first, Willamette tied the score. Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) walked with one out. Mason Fessler (So., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) reached base on a fielding error by shortstop David Mason with to outs, as Bailey advanced to second. Bailey scored on a single to right field by Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS).
An RBI double by Finn McMichael and a run-scoring single by Hilpert gave the Wildcats a 3-1 lead iin the second inning. Wyatt's home run, which cleared the fence in left field, cut the margin in half.
Linfield kept its one-run lead until the top of the seventh, when the Wildcats tacked on two runs for a 5-2 advantage. The offensive surge took place with two outs in the inning. Eric Lawson hit a single and Andrews added a double down the left field line. Ryan Ross followed with a single through the left side, scoring Lawson and advancing Andrews to third. Andrews scored on a double steal.
Willamette threatened to rally in the bottom of the seventh, but scored just one run despite four hits. Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) opened the frame with a single to right, and Shea Harrison (Sr., OF/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) added an infield single on a that went off the glove of Andrews at first base. Harrison beat out the throw from second baseman Kekoa Kaulukukui.
Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) provided a single to left field that loaded the bases. After Bailey flied out, Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) singled down the left field line to bring home Parra. Two WU runners were left on base after Fessler hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Linfield recorded the game's final two runs in the top of the ninth. Lawson and Andrews hit back-to-back doubles with one out to create the first run. Andrew scored with two outs on a single by Jake Gellos.
Andrews scored two runs and earned two RBIs for the Wildcats in addition to going 4 for 5 with three doubles. Kaulukukui went 3 for 4. Lawson was 2 for 5 with two runs scored, while Hilpert went 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI.
Harrison finished 2 of 4 for the Bearcats. Conway was 2 for 5. Bailey scored once and received three of the four walks issued during the game.
Linfield middle reliever Callahan Neeley (2-4) pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on five hits to earn the win. Cody Walker tossed the final 2 2/3 innings. He recorded one strikeout, and allowed no runs, no hits and one walk to claim his third save.
WU starter Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) fell to 1-3 with the loss. He pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed five runs (three earned).
The Bearcats will be back in action on Tuesday, March 29, when they are scheduled to host Corban University. Game time has been changed to 4 p.m. (PDT).
