By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University starting pitcher Matt Steindorf (RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) struck out eight batters in eight innings to lead the Bearcats to an 11-0 victory over Pacific University in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 30 at John Lewis Field. The Boxers gained a split of the doubleheader by winning the second game, 8-1.
Senior right fielder Gordie Clary (Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) of Willamette went 6 for 9 during the twinbill with a pair of doubles, one run and one RBI. He was 4 for 5 with a double and a run scored in the opener. In the second game, he was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Willamette ended the day with a 19-19 overall record. Pacific moved to 25-17 on the season. The teams will conclude their schedules by returning to John Lewis Field for a single game on Sunday, May 1. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).
Bearcats Earn 15 Hits, Conway Belts 3-Run Homer
The Bearcats pounded out 15 hits in the opener. Clary's four hits led the way, while Troy Conway (So., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) provided a 3-for-4 performance that included a three-run home and four RBIs.
Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and added one run in the second.
Conway singled to open the bottom of the first. He went to second and third when pitcher Paul Wolfram grabbed a bunt by Connor Bailey (Fr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and threw the ball over second base into center. Conway scored on a ground out by Mason Fessler (So., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), and Bailey reached home on a single by Eric Del Prado (So., 1B, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS).
In the second, Kyle Paguio (Fr., 3B, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS) singled with two outs. A fielding error allowed Paguio to reach second on a grounder by Conway. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Paguio crossed the plate on a single through the left side by Bailey.
Willamette didn't score gain until the bottom of the sixth, but the 3-0 lead held, as Steindorf allowed Pacific just two hits -- both singles -- through the Boxers' first six at bats. Steindorf struck out all three batters in the second inning.
The Bearcats plated three runs in the sixth. Clary and Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) each singled to center to start the inning. After Clary was thrown out at third on a bunt, Tyler Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) singled to right field to load the bases. The runs were then forced home one at a time when Paguio was hit by a pitch, Conway walked and Bailey walked.
WU tacked on five runs in the seventh. Janitz drove in the first run with a single to right center. Paguio brought in the next run on a ground out. Conway produced the final three runs on a home run near the right field foul pole.
Janitz (Fr., SS, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) was 2 for 4 with two runs and one RBI, while Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) finished 2 for 5 and scored twice. Pacific's five hits were recorded by five players.
Steindorf improved to 6-2 with the win, as he lowered his earned run average to 3.70. Wolfram dropped to 6-6 for Pacific.
Boxers Hold Bearcats to Six Hits in Game 2
Starting pitcher Sam Lawrence threw five innings and reliever Kyler Knieriem tossed four innings, as they combined to limit Willamette to just six hits in the second game. Lawrence advanced his record to 6-2 with the victory, while Knieriem picked up his first save.
The Boxers accumulated 12 hits during the contest. They broke a scoreless deadlock with one run in the top of the fourth. Center fielder Kurtis Kloke singled with no outs. He went to second when Tanner Mansell was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Strayer. Kloke scored on a two-out single by catcher Mike Thomson.
Four runs in the fifth inning extended the Boxers' lead to 5-0. Nathan Suyematsu connected for a leadoff single. Ryan Sohn, Mansell and Taren Bradd each belted a double during the stanza, with Sohn driving in the first run. Kloke added an RBI single, and moved to third on Mansell's double. Bradd's hit brought in the final two runs.
Willamette scored its only run in the sixth inning. Bailey singled with no outs, and went to second on a wild pitch with one out. Bailey scored on a two-out single Clary through the right side of the infield.
Kloke smacked a three-run homer to left field for the Boxers to complete the scoring in the top of the ninth. It was his 11th home run of the season, tying him with teammate Walker Olis for first place in the Northwest Conference.
During the game, Kloke was 3 for 5 with three runs and four RBIs. Sohn, Bradd and Thomson each achieved two hits. Clary's two hits led Willamette.
