By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Willamette University scored four runs in the top of the 12th inning to break a 2-2 tie and the Bearcats went on to down Pacific Lutheran University, 6-2, in the first round of the 2021 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament at Chuck Bafaro Stadium on Thursday, May 13. In the other first round game, host Pacific University outlasted Whitworth University, 5-4, on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. The Bearcats will take on Pacific in the winner's bracket game at 1 p.m. (PDT) on Friday, May 14. Pacific Lutheran and Whitworth will start Friday's schedule with an elimination game at 10 a.m.
Willamette's first three runs in the 12th crossed the plate with one out on a squeeze bunt single by Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) that was followed by an errant throw from the catcher. Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS), who began the inning as the runner placed at second in the international tie-breaker, scored on the play, along with Ethan Dunnam (So., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS), who as hit by a pitch, and Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), who reached base on an error.
Faudsker advanced to second on the throwing error by the catcher, and then scored when Sean Little (Sr., 2B, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) belted a double to left field. Faudskar was 3 for 5 on the day with two bunt singles and three RBIs. Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS), who pitched the final four innings for Willamette, improved to 5-1 with the win.
In the bottom of the 12th, Kenton Robillard of Pacific Lutheran was placed on second base. Andy Schmitz hit a single to right field to advance Robillard to third. After Joyner caused Austin Gormley to fly out to right field, Jordan Haworth was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) caught a foul ball outside the right field line to put out Cole Trotignon. Joyner ended the game by striking out pinch-hitter Cody Bentley.
Each team scored only one run in the first nine innings. Willamette tallied the game's first run in the top of the third. With one out, Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) hit an infield single toward third base. He scored when Faudskar pounded a double into left field. Faudskar was left stranded at second two outs later.
Pacific Lutheran tied the score at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Robillard singled to right field to open the stanza and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Schmitz. Robillard moved to third base on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Haworth.
In the top of the 10th, Willamette took a 2-1 lead. Clint Walker (So./Fy., OF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) was placed on second as a pinch-runner. After Wagner was hit by a pitch, Vandemark provided a sacrifice bunt toward the mound to send the runners to second and third. Faudskar added a single on a squeeze bunt, as Walker scored and Wagner advanced to third. Little hit a long flyout to foul territory near left field, but Wagner was thrown out at the plate.
Schmitz was on second base for PLU to begin the bottom of the 10th. Gormley moved Schmitz to third with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Haworth drove Schmitz across the plate with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the score at 2-2. Neither team scored in the 11th inning.
The Lutes claimed a 9-8 edge in hits during the game, but Little and Faudskar of Willamette provided the game's only doubles. Faudskar's 3-of-5 performance led WU at the plate, while Vandemark went 2 of 4. Alex Boyd topped PLU's offense by going 3 of 5. Schmitz was 2 of 5 for the Lutes.
Wagner was the starting pitcher for Willamette. He threw seven innings, and allowed just six hits and one unearned run. He struck out five batters while giving up one walk. JD Willis (Fy., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) tossed the eighth inning for the Bearcats and faced one batter in the ninth before Joyner entered the game. Pacific Lutheran's starter, Tommy Snyder, pitched eight innings, struck out two batters, and gave up five hits and one run. Alex Gregory threw the next three innings and started the 12th, but fell to 4-3 with the loss.
The NWC Tournament will feature three games on Friday. The winner of the Pacific Lutheran versus Whitworth game will play again at 4 p.m. (PDT) against the loser of the Willamette versus Pacific game. The winner between Willamette and Pacific will not play again until Saturday.
