By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) of Willamette University smacked two home runs, including a game-tying, two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Bearcats lost to Linfield University, 8-7 in 11 innings, as the teams completed a three-game Northwest Conference series on Saturday, March 30. Willamette won the first two games of the series, 17-9 and 7-3, on Friday, March 29.
The Bearcats concluded the weekend with a 17-5 overall record and a 10-5 mark in the NWC. Linfield improved to 9-13 on the season, 4-7 in the NWC.
Baskin was 3 of 5 at the plate as his homers drove in three runs. Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) went 3 for 5 with three runs scored. Jeff Hoffman (Sr., DH/3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) was 2 for 3. Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) blasted a double and earned three RBIs on a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice, and a groundout.
Three Linfield batters finished 3 of 5 for the day. They were Tyler Marr, Nick Holm, and Danny Kahn. Marr hit a triple, scored one run and had two RBIs. Holm led the Wildcats with three RBIs, while Kahn scored twice. Hunter Klingelhoffer was 2 for 6, hit a solo home run, and crossed the plate three times.
Willamette trailed 4-1 after 2 1/2 innings, but the Bearcats battled. WU tied the game 6-6 in the eighth on Baskin's second homer and tied the game 7-7 in the bottom of the 10th.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. For Linfield, Matthew Lewis singled with one out, went to second on a single by Marr, reached third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Holm. For the Bearcats, Foster hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Hoffman, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Walker.
The Wildcats tallied three runs in the top of the third. With not outs, Marr tripled near the left field line to drive in two runs. Holm followed with a single as Marr crossed the plate. Three of the next four batters were put out. Foster singled down the right field line in the bottom of the third. Hoffman batted next and was hit by a pitch. One out later, Walker hit into a fielder's choice with Hoffman out at second. Linfield tried to complete a double play, but the throw to first was wild. Foster scored to pull WU within 4-2.
Klingelhoffer hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to give Linfield a 5-2 lead. Baskin smacked a solo homer for WU in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, Foster singled and later scored on a groundout by Walker, cutting the margin 5-4.
Linfield tacked on a run in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, a fly ball by Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University) was dropped by the second baseman, as Thames went to second base. Baskin followed with a two-run homer over the center field fence to tie the game at 6-6.
Each team pushed across a run in the 10th inning. Klingelhoffer of LU was hit by a pitch. He stole second base with one out and went to third on a balk with two outs. Holm drove in Klingelhoffer with a single.
Hoffman singled to begin the bottom of the inning and Nate Hamburger (Fy., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS) pinch-ran. A groundout by Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) sent Hamburger to second. Walker smacked a double to left and Hoffman scored for the Bearcats. A throwing error on the play allowed Walker to reach third. Walker attempted to score when Thames bunted toward the pitcher, but was thrown out. Thames was later caught stealing on a close play at second, leaving the teams tied at 7-7.
In the 11th, Kahn doubled for Linfield and moved to third on a groundout. With two outs, Chase Highberger singled on a bad hop into right field, as Khan scored. For Willamette, Liam O'Connor (Fy., SS, Evergreen, CO/Conifer HS) hit an infield single with two outs and went to second on a balk. LU pitcher Gavin Ludlow ended the game with a strikeout.
Ludlow upped his record to 2-2. LU starter Jacob Swenson threw 7 2/3 innings and gave up six runs (3 earned) with seven strikeouts and one walk. WU reliever Brady Joyner (Sr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) fell to 1-1 after pitching the last two innings. Four WU pitchers struck out 16 batters, while three Linfield pitchers struck out nine.
Willamette is scheduled to play an NWC series at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, next weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. PDT and will play one game on Sunday, April 7, also at 12 p.m.
