By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University won five of six singles matches, as the Bearcats defeated the University of Puget Sound, 6-3, at the UPS Tennis Pavilion on Saturday, March 12. The Bearcats upped their record to 4-1 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference, heading into a match against Pacific Lutheran University later on Saturday.

UPS won #2 doubles and #3 doubles to take a 2-1 lead in the team score, but the Bearcats surged in front with solid play throughout the lineup in singles.

At #1 singles, Michael Baumgartner (So., Albany, OR/WEwst Albany HS) of Willamette outscored Michael Cutter, 6-4, 6-2. Baumgartner also teamed up with Cody Ferguson (Jr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) to win #1 doubles over Ben Miller and Brent Hoshiba, 8-4.

Willamette claimed additional wins at #2, #3, #4 and #6 singles. Joshua Wong (So., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) won #2 singles after a close first set against Chas Stewart, 6-4, 6-2. Ferguson prevailed at #3 singles in a similar way, with a close win in the first set on his way to defeating Nick Kelley, 7-5, 6-2.

Matthew Houser (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) quickly took the #4 singles match, 6-0, 6-0, over Brian Burger. Will Cooper (Fr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) won the closest match of the day in an extended super tie-breaker at #6 singles against Miller, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 15-13.

Puget Sound's lone win in singles was gained by Alex Harrison at #5 singles, where he downed Garrett Vincent (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep/Bellevue CC), 6-1, 6-1.

Winners in doubles for UPS were Kelley and Stewart in the #2 match, plus Cutter and Harrison in the #3 match.