Bearcats Score Twice in Ninth Inning, Add One Run in 10th, to Rally Past Corban, 8-7

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

KEIZER, ORE. -- Willamette University scored twice in the ninth inning and once in the 10th, as the Bearcats rallied for an 8-7 victory over crosstown rival Corban University on Tuesday, April 26 at Volcanoes Stadium.

Adam Reid (Jr., RF, San Jose, CA/Lynbrook HS) started the top of the 10th with a double to right center. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Doug Bloom (Sr., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Tommy Kawamura (So., 2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS).

Corban sent just three batters to the plate in the bottom of the 10th. Each batter hit a grounder toward Kawamura at second, as he registered assists on the final three outs of the game.

Parker Johnson (So., RHP, Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for Willamette and allowed just one hit while giving the Bearcats the chance to rally. Johnson, the 10th pitcher for WU during the contest, improved to 3-0 on the season.

For Willamette, T.C. Lee (Sr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS) went 4 for 5 with three runs and three RBIs. He hit two doubles, a single and a home run. He blasted his homer to left field with Tyson Giza (So., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) on base in the top of the third. It was Lee's 11th home run of the season, tying him for the team lead with Max Stepan (Sr., C, Pueblo, CO/Pueblo County HS).

Giza opened the ninth inning with a single up the middle. Lee doubled to right field to drive in Giza and cut Corban's lead to 7-6. Lee advance to third on a ground out by Stepan and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Brandon Chinn (Fr., 1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) to tie the game.

Trevor Winsor of Corban went 5 for 5 with five singles. Tyler Lake smacked a solo home run for the Warriors in the third inning.

Willamette led 3-0 following Lee's homer in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Lake's homer for Corban provided the first of two runs, as the Warriors pulled within 3-2. Nate Hiebert doubled and scored the second run on a double by Steven Blum.

The Warriors moved in front 5-3 with one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Winsor singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Bost in the fourth. Johnathan Ramirez doubled down the left field line and scored in the fifth on a single by Kyle Kunkel. Another single by Winsor advanced Kunkel to third. Kunkel scored on a double steal, narrowly beating the throw home.

Willamette tied the game in the seventh. With one out Giza and Lee hit back-to-back singles. Stepan was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases. Alex Lavery (Fr., IF, San Jose, CA/Bellarmine Prep) walked on a 3-2 count to bring in Giza. Chinn provided a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game when Lee crossed the plate.

Corban regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. A passed ball with the bases loaded allowed Aarason Perry to cross the plate with go-ahead run. Winsor scored from third when the next batter, Bost, hit a fly ball that was dropped in right field.

Neither team scored in the eighth inning, leaving the Bearcats with a 7-5 deficit before their game-winning rally.

Lee was one of three Bearcats with more than one hit. Giza finished 3 for 6 and scored three times. Chinn went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Chinn also led all players with 12 putouts on defense.

In addition to Windsor, other Corban players with more than one hit were Blum (2 for 2), Ramirez (2 for 4) and Hiebert (2 for 5). The Warriors earned 14 hits, while Willamette ended the game with 12.

The Bearcats improved to 20-16-1 on the season and clinched a winning record prior to the final series of the year against the University of Puget Sound at John Lewis Field this weekend. Willamette also picked up its first extra-inning win following three losses and a tie. Corban fell to 9-38 overall.