Jepsen's Complete-Game Finishes Doubleheader Sweep of Lewis & Clark

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University pounded out 17 hits -- including a home run and five doubles -- in the first game, and Matt Jepsen (Fr., LHP, Fallbrook, CA/Fallbrook HS) pitched all nine innings in the second game, as the Bearcats swept a doubleheader at Lewis & Clark College, 22-8 and 4-1, on Saturday, March 22.

WU improved to 12-9 overall, 6-4 in the Northwest Conference. L&C dropped to 5-10-1 overall, 2-6 in the NWC. The teams will play the final game in the series on Sunday, March 23, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats scored six unearned runs in the third inning of the opener on four hits and three errors for a 6-0 lead.

Rolenn Himuro (Jr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) walked and Shea Harrison (So., 2B/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) singled to start the inning. Tommy Kawamura (Sr., SS/2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) hit the ball toward third, where it was misplayed, loading the bases.

Brandon Chinn (Sr., RF/1B, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) sent a fly ball into shallow center. The center fielder was unable to make the catch, but Kawamura had to hold-up and the ball was thrown to second. Kawamura was safe when the second baseman dropped the ball. Himuro scored on the play.

Hunter Gallant (Jr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) hit into an error at second base, which drove in Harrison. Later, Ty Wyatt (Fr., DH/INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) supplied an RBI single, Tiras Koon (Jr., 1B/C, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) hit a sacrifice fly, Tosh Semlacher (Sr., CF, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) earned an RBI single and Himuro belted an RBI double.

Wyatt blasted a two-run homer to right center in the fourth inning to increase the advantage to 8-0. Chinn, who doubled with one out, also scored.

L&C cut the margin to 8-3 in the bottom of the third. Three of the first four batters singled. Hayden Higger scored on a fielder's choice. Corey Davis reached home on a wild pitch and Tommy Massari scored on a groundout.

Willamette increased its lead to 10-3 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning and went on to build a 13-4 advantage after seven innings.

The Bearcats tacked on eight runs on five hits and one error in the top of the eighth.

Keying the big inning was Andrew Wilson (Jr., RF, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS), who drove in Austin Hagarty (So., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) with the first run on a double down the left field line. Wilson also brought in the final two runs with another double down the line. Hagarty and Bryan Afzali (Jr., LF, Manhattan Beach, CA/Mira Costa HS) scored on the play.

Willamette used 18 players on the field and at designated hitter in the first game. Fourteen players earned a hit, led by Wyatt, who went 2 for 4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs. Wilson was 2 for 2 with his two doubles, a run scored and three RBIs. Harrison was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI.

Massari topped L&C with a 3-for-4 performance. He scored three times and drove in one run. Jacob Burton was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Starting pitcher Tyler Olson (Jr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) went six innings to win the opener and moved to 2-1 on the season. He allowed seven hits and four runs. L&C starter Ryan Strombom pitched 4 2/3 innings and fell to 0-3 with the loss. He gave up eight hits and 10 runs (4 earned).

Jepsen tossed a complete-game 7-hitter for Willamette in the second game. He struck out six batters and did not allow a walk. He upped his record to 4-3.

Willamette surged in front 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning.

Koon singled to start the rally, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Semlacher moved Koon to third on a groundout, and Brad Breier (Jr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) followed with an RBI single up the middle. Himuro grounded out to shortstop, but Breier went to second. Harrison walked, and then Kawamura drove in both runners with a double to center.

The Bearcats left the bases loaded in the fifth despite a one-out single by Wyatt, a double by Koon and an intentional walk issued to Semlacher.

Jepsen continued to keep L&C off the scoreboard, and Willamette added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Gallant singled through the left side and Wyatt singled to center. Two outs later, Breier connected for a base hit to center to score Gallant from second.

The Pioneers scored their only run in the bottom of the eighth, when Bradley Lezak singled and later scored on a double by Micheal Kinkenon.

Five Bearcats pounded out two hits apiece in the second game, as WU earned 12 hits overall. Breier and Gallant each went 2 for 4, while Kawamura, Wyatt and Koon each finished 2 for 5. Brier and Kawamura both drove in two runs. For the Pioneers, Kinkenon was 2 for 4 with an RBI.