By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The doubleheader between Willamette University and Whittier College scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 9 in Whittier, California, has been canceled due to rain in Southern California. The Bearcats are still scheduled to take on Occidental College in a single game on Sunday, Feb. 10, but game time has been moved to 9 a.m. (PST).

Willamette opened the season on Friday, Feb. 8 with a 4-2 win at Whittier. Starting pitcher Matt Steindorf (Sr., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) threw eight innings and struck out 10 batters, while allowed just two runs, including one earned run. Steindorf is now 26-7 in his career and is tied with Nik Lubisich (1998-01) for third on Willamette's list of career pitching victories.

The Bearcats led 3-2 before Connor Bailey (Sr., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) smacked a solo home run to left field with two outs in the top of the ninth. Reliefer Brandon Murillo (So., RHP, Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos HS) tossed the bottom of the ninth and faced just three batters to record a save.