Bearcats Pound Boxers 16-4 in First Game of Doubleheader

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

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Willamette University connected for 22 hits in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Pacific University on Saturday, May 2, as the Bearcats routed the Boxers, 16-4, at Chuck Bafaro Field. Pacific took the second game of the twinbill, 10-3.

With the split of the doubleheader, Willamette's record moved to 21-17 on the season. Pacific ended the day at 20-19. The teams will conclude the season with one game on Sunday, May 2, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Peter Hoffman (Sr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) of Willamette struck out nine batters in six innings pitched. He allowed four hits, five walks and two runs. He improved to 5-3 on the season.

Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Troy Conway (Fr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) was hit by a pitch to start the game. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rolenn Himuro (Sr., CF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and reached third on a groundout by Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS).

After Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) was hit by a pitch, Mason Fessler (Fr., DH/INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) reached base on an error, allowing Conway to score. Gordie Clary (Jr., RF/RHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) singled to left field to drive in Koon from second base. The score remained the same until the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hoffman ended the inning with a double play on a line drive back to the mound by Ben Duerr. Hoffman snagged the ball and then doubled off Ryan Sohn at first base. The Boxers, who received two walks during the inning, left a runner at second.

Willamette scored seven runs in the sixth inning, extending its advantage to 9-0. Koon was hit by a pitch for the second time to open the inning. One out later, Clary singled to right. Jordan Ramp (Sr., LF, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS/Saddleback College) drove in Koon with a double to the left field corner.

Clary and Ramp reached home when Nate Bush singled to right with the Pacific infield pulled in. Bush scored on a single by Conway to give the Bearcats a 6-0 lead. Jacob Parra (So., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) crossed the plate on a double by Himuro. Gallant completed the rally with a two-run single past the first baseman.

The Boxers plated two runs on two walks and two singles in the bottom of the sixth. Both runs scored on a single up the middle by Austin Gallagher.

Ramp singled to left in the seventh and crossed the plate on a base hit by Conway for a 10-2 lead. The Bearcats held a 12-4 edge after eight innings.

Willamette outhit the Boxers, 22-8. Ramp finished 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs. Bush and Himuro each went 3 for 5 and scored twice. Bush drove in three runs, while Himuro belted two doubles and earned one RBI.

Koon was 2 for 3 and was hit by two pitches. He scored three runs and registered three RBIs, including a sacrifice fly. Also recording two hits were Conway, Clary and Eric del Prado (Fr., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS).

Pacific starter Kyle Treadway took the loss. He fell to 5-6 after allowing nine runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Gallagher was 2 for 3 for the Boxers with a run and two RBIs, while Matt Hopp went 2 for 5 and scored once.

Willamette pushed across two runs in the first inning of the game two. Ramp hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a bunt by Himuro, and scored on a double by Koon. Later, Koon tallied the second run when he scored on a passed ball.

Pacific tallied one run in the second inning and three runs in the third to take a 4-2 lead. In the second, Tanner Mansell walked with two outs and stole second base. He reached home on a single by Gallagher. In the third, Hopp hit an RBI single to tie the score and Walker Olis brought in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Hopp scored on a single by Donnie Bradley.

An innning and a half later, Willamette left runners at first and second in the top of the fifth. For the game, the Bearcats left 11 runners on base, including one in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth.

The Boxers increased their lead to 6-2 with one run in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the sixth. Their advantage stretched to 10-2 with four runs in the seventh. Mansell tripled to drive in the first run in the seventh. He later scored on a single by Josh Keithly.

Each team earned 14 hits during the second game, but Pacific left just six runners on base. Hopp was 4 for 5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Duerr, Bradley, Mansell and Gallagher contributed two hits apiece.

For Willamette, Koon went 4 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI. On the day, he was 6 for 7 at the plate, raising his average from .380 to .406. Himuro was 2 for 3 with a double in game two. Shea Harrison (Jr., RHP/OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) went 2 for 3 with an RBI.