By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Benjamin Whitten (Sr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) put together a strong pitching start in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 8, as he went six full innings against Linfield College and allowed only six hits and one run. The Bearcats held a 4-1 lead when Whitten left the mound, but Linfield tied the game in the top of the eighth at 5-5, and then won the game 9-7 in 10 innings. The Wildcats won the second game, 6-2.
Linfield improved to 7-9 on the season, 3-6 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette ended the day at 8-8 overall, 5-4 in the NWC.
The Bearcats earned just six hits in the opener, but benefited from 14 walks and two hit batsmen. Linfield finished the game with 15 hits, six walks and two hit batters. In the second game, the Wildcats gained a 10-5 edge in hits, while three Linfield pitchers combined for no walks. Sean Little (Jr., RF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) blasted a solo home run for WU in the second game.
Whitten Provides Six Quality Innings in the Opener
Whitten did not receive a decision in the first game despite providing the Bearcats with six solid innings on the mound. Whitten's record remained 4-0 on the season, and he lowered his earned run average to 3.18.
The Bearcats created a 4-0 lead by plating four runs in the bottom of the third inning. After Michael Nelsen (Jr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) walked, and Little hit a single, Joey Faudskar (Sr., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) also singled to load the bases. Ethan Fischel (So., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) pounded a three-RBI double to right center. Later, Fischel scored on a ground out by Nick Di Fiori (Jr., INF/RHP, Monrovia, CA/Bishop Amat HS).
Whitten kept Linfield off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when the Wildcats cut the Bearcats' lead to 4-1. With one out Tanner Jacques doubled to left center. With two outs, Levi Horner-Villa drove in Jacques with a single up the middle. Two runs in the top of the seventh, pulled Linfield within 4-3.
The Bearcats added a run in the bottom of the seventh for a two-run advantage. with one out, Layton Wagner (Fy., 3B/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) walked and went to second on a passed ball. One out later, he scored on a single by Tyler Vandemark (Jr., LF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS).
In the eighth inning, Linfield received RBI singles from Brian Cromwell and Ben Ranieri to tie the game at 5-5. In Willamette's next at bat, Little walked, reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Faudskar, and went to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Fy., DH/UT, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) was intentionally walked and stole second. Ben Setlak (Jr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) walked to load the bases, but the Wildcats escaped when relief pitcher Samuel Adams caused Wagner to fly out to center field.
Linfield broke the tie in the top of the 10th inning with four runs on four hits and an error. The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out before Jacques drove in two runs with a single to center. Cameron Skinner brought in another run with a single up the middle. Jacque scored the final run when Horner-Villa reached base on an error.
Willamette scored twice in the bottom of the 10th, but couldn't overcome Linfield's lead. Little walked to start the inning and scored on a double by Faudskar. A wild pitch sent Faudskar to third, and he crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to center field by Fischel. A line-out and a flyout, both to center field, ended the game.
Cromwell was 5 of 6 at the plate for the Wildcats with a double, three runs and an RBI. Jacques, Horner-Villa and Treve Earhart each added two hits. For Willamette, Faudskar was 2 of 3 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Fischel was 1 for 2 with a double, two walks and four RBis.
Little Hits Homer for Bearcats in Second Game
In the second game, Linfield took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, when Jacques walked and Horner-Villa followed with a home run to right center. Willamette cut the margin to 2-1 in the bottom of the second, as Di Fiori hit a leadoff double and later scored on a double by Vandemark.
The Wildcats scored once in the third inning on a solo homer by Wyatt Smith. Linfield's advantage reached 5-1 in the top of the fifth, as Horner-Villa smacked a two-run homer. One run in the sixth inning increased Linfield's lead to 6-1.
Little blasted a solo home run to left field for the Bearcats in the bottom of the eighth. Willamette sent just three batters to the plate in the night inning against Skinner, who pitched the final two stanzas for the Wildcats. In the ninth, Skinner forced Faudskar to line-out to third and then ended the game with two strikeouts. Middle reliever Callan McRae of Linfield earned the pitching win with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless pitching. He evened his record at 1-1.
In addition to Little's home run, other extra-base hits for the Bearcats in the second game were a double by Di Fiori and a double by Vandemark. Horner-Villa's two home runs led Linfield, while Smith added one home run. Cromwell provided the Wildcats with a double.
Willamette will play a three-game Northwest Conference series at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, next weekend, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14 at 12 p.m. The teams will complete the series with one game on Sunday, March 15 at 12 pm.
