By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

REDLANDS, Calif. -- Willamette University scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning, and closer Brady Joyner (Jr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) registered three strikeouts in the bottom of the inning, as the Bearcats won 3-2 against the University of Redlands in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 4. In the second game, Willamette rallied from an early 2-0 deficit and held a 12-5 lead after the top of the eighth inning. Redlands scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, but the Bearcats eventually won 13-12 in 10 innings when the game was completed on Sunday.

The second game originally ended due to darkness on Saturday with Willamette leading 12-11 after Redlands tallied six runs in the bottom of the eighth. When play was stopped, the Bulldogs had runners at first and third with no outs. The score would have reverted to the end of the seventh inning since the eighth inning was not completed. Ultimately, officials decided the game was a halted game, with action resuming prior to the third game of the series on Sunday.

Willamette is opening the season this weekend. The Bearcats are 2-0 after winning the first two games. Redlands is 1-2 overall.

"It was great to be competing against another team," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "Our guys brought a lot of energy to the field. We got two wins the hard way, but I'm really proud of how we battled through. Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) had a few huge hits. Overall, we had lots of contributions from a number of guys."

Bearcats Finish Strong in 3-2 Win to Open Season

Willamette's win in the first game was dramatic, as the Bearcats tallied both the tying run and the winning run with two outs in the ninth, and then Joyner excelled in the bottom of the stanza.

The ninth inning began with Carl Lawson (Jr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) hitting a single through the right side of the infield. Two outs later, Drew Baskin (So., INF, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) singled through the left side, sending Lawson to second. Clint Walker (Sr., OF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) received a base on balls to load the bases. Hoffman batted next and hit an RBI single to bring Lawson home with the tying run. An error on the play allowed Baskin to score an unearned run to give Willamette a 3-2 lead.

Joyner did the rest to a save. He began the bottom of the ninth by causing Sebastian Mejorado to strike out swinging. Then Joyner set down Cade McClelland and Will Cell, as both struck out looking. Will Braaton (Sr., RHP, Highlands Ranch, CO (Thunderridge HS) of Willamette, who pitched the final out of the seventh inning and all of the bottom of the eighth, picked up the win.

Willamette outhit Redlands, 8-6, and the Bulldogs committed three errors. Baskin led WU's offense with three hits in four at bats in addition to scoring the winning run. Lawson was 2 of 4 with two runs scored for the Bearcats. Willamette played error-free defense.

Earlier in the game, the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Max Clark hit a leadoff double to right center, and stole second one out later. He scored when Mejorado hit an RBI single to left center with two outs.

The next five innings went by without either team scoring. WU tied the game at 1-1 in seventh. Lawson singled with one out and Ethan Dunnam (Sr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) doubled to put runners at the corners. Jonny Suchor (Sr., INF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) drove in Lawson by hitting into an error. Dunnam tried to score, but was thrown out at home.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mejorado singled with two outs for Redlands. He moved to second when McClelland was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Cell.

Willamette Scores 13 Runs on 14 Hits in Second Game

The Bearcats rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the second game to hold a 12-2 advantage after 6 1/2 innings. Redlands scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh and reduced the lead to 12-11 with no outs in the eighth before the game was suspended due to darkness. When play resumed on Sunday, Redlands tied the score, but WU won 13-12 in 10 innings.

Redlands tallied one run in the first stanza and added one run in the third. Luke De Vries doubled and scored in the first inning, while Esteban walked and later scored in the third.

WU tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) was hit by a pitch and Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) walked one out later. Lawson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Fischel and Werkmeister-Martin scored on a double by Rocco Granucci (So., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS).

In the sixth inning, Willamette's four-run outburst included Werkmeister-Martin stealing home with the go-ahead run, Joshua Murphy (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Cascade HS/Olympic College) earning an RBI after hitting into an error, and Walker recording an RBI on a fielder's choice. The barrage ended when Walker scored on an RBI double by Hoffman.

The six-run seventh inning for the Bearcats included six hits. Hoffman completed the scoring with a three-run homer to left field. Earlier, Adam Birt (Fy., 2B, Fremont, CA/Washington HS) hit a two-RBI single and Walker followed with an RBI single. In the bottom of the seventh, Redlands pushed across three runs, beginning with an RBI single by Jared Anderson. Later, Anderson scored the third run on a double down the left field line by Clark.

After holding WU scoreless in the top of the eighth, Redlands rallied to tie the game at 12-12. The seven runs were scored on nine hits including a two-RBI double by Anderson to pull UR within 12-9. Two additional runners scored before the game was suspended.

When the teams returned to the field with runners at first and third and no outs, Mejorado reached base on a fielder's choice to drive in Clark with the tying run, while Jake Burgess was thrown out at second. Kaiya Saito singled and then Garbriel Ceja hit into a double play to end the stanza.

Neither team had a base runner in the ninth. Hoffman opened the 10th inning for WU with a single, and Fischel also singled. A fielder's choice by Baskin left Fischel at second while Hoffman was thrown out. With two outs, Lawson singled to center field, driving in Fischel for a 13-12 lead. Joyner went to the mound for WU in the bottom of the 10th and quickly retired the Bulldogs with a pop-up, a groundout, and a strikeout. He earned his second save in as many games. Joyner is fourth on Willamette's all-time list with 11 career saves.

Hoffman was 3 for 6 with a 3-run homer, a double, and a single, plus four RBIs. Walker, Granucci, Birt, Fischel, and Lawson each earned two hits. Walker, Werkmeister-Martin, Lawson, Murphy, and Fischel all scored two runs. Granucci, Birt, and Walker each finished with two RBIs. For the Bulldogs, Anderson was 3 for 5 with a double, two runs, and five RBIs. De Vries went 3 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored.

Logan Haslam (Jr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) of WU was credited with the win after pitching to the last three batters in the eighth and retiring all three batters in the ninth.