St. Martins' Edges Bearcats in Baseball, 2-1

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

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- St. Martin's University scored one run in the fifth inning and added one run in the seventh inning for a 2-0 lead, before the Saints held off Willamette University for a 2-1 victory at Roy Helser Field on Friday, Feb. 21 in the NWC/CCC/GNAC Challenge.

St. Martin's, which competes in NCAA Division II and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, improved to 1-4 overall. Willamette, which plays in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, fell to 4-3 on the season.

The Saints led 1-0 after Zack Larsen was hit by a pitch with two outs in the fifth inning and later scored. He was brought home by Chandler Tracy, who singled. Tracy added a solo home run with two outs in the seventh inning to give St. Martin's a two-run cushion.

Ty Wyatt (Fr., DH/INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) blasted a solo home run to left field for Willamette in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 2-1. There were two outs when Wyatt pounded the homer, his first for the Bearcats.

Neither team scored in the ninth inning.

WU starter Matt Jepsen (Fr., LHP, Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook HS) threw a solid six innings for Willamette. He allowed seven hits and one run, while striking out four batters and allowing no walks. His record went to 2-1. Relief pitcher Jackson Watt (So., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) gave up one run in while throwing the final three innings.

Zach Carter started on the mound for St. Martin's and threw seven scoreless innings. The Bearcats managed six hits -- all singles -- while Carter was pitching. He struck out four batters and walked one, as he advanced his record to 1-0. Josh Sontag gave up Willamette's one run in two innings of work. He registered his first save of the season.

Tracy finished 3 for 4 with a homer, one run and two RBIs for the Saints. Travis Shaw added a double for St. Martin's. The Saints achieved a slim 8-7 advantage in hits, but committed the game's only error.

Wyatt was 2 for 4 with a homer, a run scored and an RBI for Willamette. Bryan Afzali (Jr., LF, Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa HS) also finished 2 for 4.

Willamette will play two games in the NWC/CCC/GNAC Challenge on Saturday (Feb. 22) in Portland, Ore. The Bearcats will take on cross-town rival Corban University at 11 a.m. (PST) and will play Concordia University (Ore.) at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at Concordia's home field.

The Bearcats will complete the tournament by facing Oregon Institute of Technology on Sunday (Feb. 23). Game time in McMinnville, Ore., is slated for 11 a.m. (PST).