By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

MILWAUKIE, Ore. -- Willamette University scored four runs in the first inning, and starting pitcher Benjamin Whitten (Sr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) struck out seven batters in six innings on the mound, as the Bearcats defeated Whitman College, 5-4, in a non-conference baseball game on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Milwaukie High School Field.

Whitten improved to 2-0 on the season, while allowing only two runs, four hits and two walks. He left the game after six innings with Willamette leading 4-2. The Blues had runners at second and third when WU reliever Mason Cook (Sr., RHP, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS) caused Matthew Sox to fly out to right field for the final out of the game. Cook was credited with a save.

All four runs plated by the Bearcats in the first inning were unearned, as Willamette benefited from an error and a hit batsman. Even so, the Bearcats produced two key moments with their bats, as Joey Faudskar (Sr., CF/P, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) opened the game with a double to left field, and Samuel Daly (Fy, OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) pounded out a bases-loaded double later in the inning.

Whitman scored a run in the bottom of the second to cut Willamette's lead to 4-1. Kevin Nakamura was hit by a pitch to start the inning. With one out, David Johnson singled through the left side to send Nakamura to second base. Nakamura scored on a single by Anthony Nevoso. The Blues added another run four innings later, when Sox walked with one out and eventually scored while Ben Parker reached first and second base on an error. Parker registered an RBI, as Sox began the play at third base and would have scored without the error.

In Willamette's next at bat, the Bearcats pushed across a run to extend their advantage to 5-2. Eric Waldichuk (So., 1B, San Diego, CA/University City HS) blasted a double to left field with one out. With two outs, Layton Wagner (Fy., 3B/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) singled up the middle to drive home Waldichuk.

The Blues countered with one run in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 5-3. In the top of the ninth, Waldichuk and Scanlon walked with one out. Whitman's fourth pitcher of the game, Collin Anderson forced Wagner to fly out to right field for the second out. Waldichuk moved to third on the play, while Scanlon stayed at first. Anderson escaped the jam by getting Ben Setlak (Jr., RF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) to foul out near third base.

At the start of Whitman's final at bat, Leo Rivera and Isaac Beaman walked before Jerick Nomura struck out. Brett Williams reached first on a fielding error at first base, Rivera and Beaman each advanced one base. With the bases loaded, Drew Vannaman batted the ball toward third, which led to Williams being thrown out at second. Beaman went to third and Rivera scored on the play to reduce Willamette's lead to 5-4. Vannaman stole second base before Sox flew out to Setlak in right field to end the game.

Whitman outhit Willamette by a razor-thin margin of 6-5. For the Bearcats, five players recorded one hit apiece. Three of the hits were doubles by Faudskar, Daly and Waldichuk. Daly led both teams with three RBIs. For the Blues, Beaman was 2 for 3 and Williams was 2 for 5. All six of Whitman's hits were singles.

The Bearcats will take on Lewis & Clark College in a non-conference game at Milwaukie High School on Sunday, Feb. 16. Game time is slated for 4 p.m. (PST).