By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. – The Willamette University baseball team jumped out to an early lead and then relied on solid pitching and strong defense to turn back visiting Whitworth, 10-3, on Sunday, March 20, at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats swept the three-game series with the Pirates and won their fifth straight to improve to 11-8 overall and 9-6 in the Northwest Conference. Whitworth dropped to 4-19 overall and 3-9 in the NWC.

The Pirates struck first behind a three-run homerun from designated hitter Colt Corrigan in the top of the first. The lead was short-lived with the Bearcats answering with five runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., IF, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) led off with a single, Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) reached on an error and Ethan Fischel (Sr., IF, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) drew a walk to load the bases.

Willamette's designated hitter Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) stepped in to rip a two-run single into left field to put the Bearcats on the board. Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/IF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) followed up with a three-run homer of his own to put the Bearcats in front, 5-3, with a shot over the left field fence.

Ryan Whithorn (Gr., IF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School) led off the second inning with a double and moved to third on a ground out. He came in to score on an RBI from Fischel to stretch the lead to 6-3. Dunnam was hit by a pitch and added a pair of stolen bases in the inning as well.

Willamette put a pair of runners on in the third to set up a three-run bomb from Samuel Daly (Jr., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) to give the Bearcats a 9-3 advantage. The scoring stalled until the bottom of the eighth when the Bearcats tacked on another run behind back-to-back doubles from Dunnam and Fischel for the final of 10-3.

Daly led Willamette at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and the three-run homer. Six other Bearcats had lone hits on the day while Topping and Fischel each added two RBIs and reached on a pair of walks. Wagner tallied three RBIs with his round tripper as well while throwing out a pair of runners at home and third in the first and second innings.

Five Bearcats went to the mound, combining for seven strikeouts while allowing three walks. Ben Kowalski (Jr., RHP, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) recorded three strikeouts to close out the game in a pair of hitless innings. The Bearcat defense did not commit an error and turned three double plays on the afternoon.

Willamette returns to action at home on Tuesday, hosting Corban University. Opening pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT)