By Brandon Chinn, Athletics Communications Writer
SALEM, Ore. -- Jake Bradley (Fr., OF, Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) spent the first nine-plus innings of Saturday's doubleheader action on the bench, as Willamette went back and forth with Whitworth University -- ranked 10th nationally by D3baseball.com -- in an extra-inning affair.
But when Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) reached second base on a two-out error by the Pirates' right fielder in the bottom of the 10th inning, the freshman's name was finally called.
Bradley delivered, lacing a two-strike pitch to left field for the game-winning run, as pinch-runner Aaron Mell (Fr., OF, Newcastle, WA/The Overlake School) crossed the plate for an 8-7 victory. Whitworth won the second game 7-2.
With the doubleheader split, the Bearcats' record moved to 18-17 overall, 11-12 in the NWC, while Whitworth ended the day at 24-8 ovearall, 16-7 in NWC.
Bearcats Tie Game 1 in Ninth Inning, Win in 10th Inning
It seemed early on as if Bradley's heroics would not be needed, after the Bearcats struck first with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. A Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) single brought home Perry Van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/ El Cerrito HS), and a two-out, two-run double by senior Gordie Clary (Sr., UT, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) capped the inning.
The Pirates knotted the game with a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth, before taking a 4-3 lead in the top half of the seventh on a solo home run by Garrett Hughes.
Trailing by a run, Willamette loaded up the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Clary walked on five pitches to tie the game, and Ty Wyatt (So., INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) cranked a two-run double down the left field line for the 6-4 lead.
Whitworth answered with three runs of its own in the top of the ninth inning. Three straight Pirate singles to open the frame plated one run and put runners on first and second base. Whitworth tied the game on an infield single, before re-capturing the lead on a sacrifice fly to center field.
With three outs separating the Bearcats from defeat, Van Eckhardt worked a four-pitch walk. He stole his third base of the year to put a runner in scoring position with just one out. Bailey followed with a single, advancing Van Eckhardt to third base.
Freshman Kyle Paguio (INF, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS) executed a perfect bunt play to bring home Van Eckhardt and tie the game at seven, forcing extra innings.
Brendan Natuzzi (Fr., RHP, Sonoma, CA/Justin-Siena HS) took the mound in the top of the 10th and promply fired a 10-pitch, three-up, three-down inning to pave the way for Bradley's walk-off heroics.
Natuzzi earned the win with his perfect inning of relief, improving to 1-0 on the season.
Bailey, Brett and Clary each had two hits apiece for the Bearcats, who notched a combined 10 hits in the first game. Clary produced a team-high three RBIs.
Del Prado Homers in Game 2 Defeat
The Pirates pushed across three early runs in game two, thanks in part to a two-run homer by Matthew Nelson in the third inning for the 3-0 lead.
Willamette loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of walks and a single by Aaron Fong (So., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), but managed a single run on a sacrifice fly by Bailey.
The Pirates got that run right back and three additional tallies by scoring four unanswered runs over the next four innings to enter the bottom of the ninth with a 7-1 lead.
Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) led off the ninth frame for Willamette with a home run to right field, his fifth blast of the season, tying him for the team lead. Whitworth slammed the door after that en route to the 7-2 victory.
Ryan Kingma got the win for the Pirates, tossing eight innings of three-hit baseball to notch his seventh victory of the season (7-2). Willamette starter Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings in the loss.
The teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday, April 17. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. (PDT).
