By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University Bearcats blasted a total of six home runs during a doubleheader sweep of Linfield University, 11-8 and 15-9, on Saturday, March 7 in non-conference action at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats hit three home runs in each game, including four 3-run homers. All three home runs in the opener were earned with two runners on base. Willamette improved to 6-2 on the season, while Linfield dropped to 2-6.
Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) smacked a 3-run homer in each game. He has connected for five home runs in Willamette's first eight contests. Also hitting 3-run homers on Sunday were Samuel Daly (So, RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) and Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) in the first game. In the second game, Werkmeister-Martin added a 2-run homer, while Ethan Fischel (Jr., INF, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) belted a solo home run.
Nelson gave Willamette a 3-0 lead in the opener with his 3-run shot in the first inning. Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS), who opened the game with a single, and Daly, who reached base two batters later on a fielder's choice, scored on Nelsen's homer.
Linfield tied the score in the top of the second. All three runs scored on a bases-loaded double by Garrett Moen. The Bearcats quickly regained the lead at 6-3 on Daly's 3-run homer in the bottom of the second. Werkmeister-Martin added the third 3-run homer of the game in the fourth inning to provide WU with a 9-3 lead. A two-run single by Sean Little (Sr., 2B, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) later in the fourth increased the Bearcats' advantage to 11-3.
The Wildcats crept back into the game at 11-7 with four runs in the fifth inning. The final two runs of the stanza were driven across the plate by Tanner Earhart, who singled to center field. Linfield plated one run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike LaVigne, but couldn't get closer.
WU relief pitcher Mason Cook (Grad., RHP, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS) threw the last 4 1/3 innings for the Bearcats to register the win and improve to 1-0. Cook gave up just one run and two hits while earning one strikeout. Starter Justin Miller (Sr./Jr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS) struck out six batters with no walks over 4 2/3 innings, but allowed eight hits and seven runs -- four earned. LU starter Grant Knox well to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats walked 10 batters.
Vandemark was 3 for 5 at the plate in the first game for Willamette. Daly, in addition to hitting one of the 3-run homers, scored three runs. Vandemark and Layton Wagner (So., 3B/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) each scored twice. Moen was 2 of 4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Wildcats.
Willamette opened the second game by taking a 3-0 lead, as Nelsen pounded his second 3-run homer of the day. Daly and Wagner scored on the play.
Linfield rallied with one run in the second inning and four runs in the third to move in front 5-3. Jackson Horner provided an RBI single in the second. In the third, Tanner Jacques recorded a leadoff triple, Reid Sturn hit an RBI single, Ben Ranieri belted an RBI double. Levi Horner-Villa and Horner produced sacrifice flies.
In the bottom of the third, Willamette responded with six runs on six hits for a 9-5 lead. Key plays were a leadoff homer by Fischel, an RBI single by Vandemark, a 2-run double by Nelsen, and Werkmeister's 2-run homer. Willamette tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The lengthy at bat featured five hits and two errors. Contributing RBI singles during the stanza were Daly and Nelsen, while Fischel hit a 2-run single.
Horner-Villa smacked a solo home run for Linfield in the top of the fifth to pull the Wildcats with 15-6. A trio of runs in the sixth inning allowed Linfield to reduce the margin to 15-9, but the Bearcats forced the Wildcats to leave the bases loaded.
Nelsen was 3 for 3 in the second game with two runs and six RBIs. Vandemark recorded his second 3-for-5 game of the day while scoring two runs and supplying one RBI. Werkmeister-Martin, Fischel, and Little each earned two hits. Linfield players with two hits in the second game were Horner-Villa, Sturn, and Tanner Jacques. Horner-Villa and Sturn both finished with three RBIs. Jacques hit the game's only triple.
Willamette middle reliever JD Willis (Fy., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) picked up his first collegiate win after allowing just one hit and one run in three innings. He entering the game with runners at second and third in the third inning and the score tied at 3-3. Willis achieved three strikeouts and allowed one walk. Linfield relief pitcher Evan Bates, who was on the mound when Willamette took the lead for good in the third inning, fell to 1-1.
The Bearcats will play a four-game series at George Fox University to open Northwest Conference play next weekend. The teams will play doubleheaders on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, with a 9-inning game followed by a 7-inning game each day. Saturday's doubleheader with begin at 11 a.m. (PST) and Sunday's twinbill will start at 12 p.m. (PDT).
