Pacific Lutheran Wins Two Games against Willamette in Baseball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- A three-run homer by Collin Nilson in the sixth inning proved to be the difference for Pacific Lutheran University in a 4-2 win over Willamette University in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 7 at John Lewis Field. In the second game, PLU earned 19 hits to defeat the Bearcats, 14-2.

The Lutes upped their season record to 12-4 and moved into a tie for first place in the NWC standings with University of Puget Sound at 6-2. Willamette slipped to 12-3 on the season. The Bearcats are tied for third in the NWC with George Fox University at 5-3.

Willamette and Pacific Lutheran will close out the series with one game on Sunday, March 8. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the first game after Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) singled to left field to start the bottom of the fifth. One out later, Hagarty reached second on an errant pickoff move by pitcher Chris Bishop. With two outs, Troy Conway (Fr., INF, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) drove in Hagarty with a single to center.

In the top of the sixth, Drew Oord of PLU was hit by a pitch with one out. Jacob Clements hit a ball toward shortstop. A fielding error on the play allowed Oord to reach second, while Clements went to first. Nilson batted next and sent the ball over the left field fence, giving the Lutes a 3-1 advantage.

WU pulled with one run but left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. With one out Shea Harrison (Jr., LF/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) singled and Nate Bush (Fr., SS, Boise, ID/Boise HS) walked. After Cory Nelson relieved Bishop on the mound, Mason Fessler (Fr., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) also walked.

Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) hit an infield single to shortstop, allowing Harrison to score. Bush was thrown out at home when Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) sent a grounder toward third. Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) grounded out to second base.

Curtis Wildung started the ninth inning with a double to right center for the Lutes. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lee Larson and later scored on an infield single by Ben Welch.

Bishop recorded the win for PLU. He went 6 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and two runs, with only one earned run. He earned four strikeouts. A.J. Konopaski, who pitched the ninth inning, achieved his fourth save. WU starter Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) pitched seven innings and gave up six hits, while striking out six batters.

Wildung from Pacific Lutheran went 2 for 3 and scored one run. Himuro was 2 for 5 with an RBI for Willamette. Hagarty went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The Lutes scored two runs in the second inning and one run in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. Oord hit an RBI single and Bo Pearson supplied a sacrifice fly in the second. In the fourth, Welch earned an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. PLU left three runners on base.

Four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth extended the Lutes' lead to 11-0. Pearson drove in all four runs in the fifth with a grand slam home run to right field. In the sixth, Tyler Thompson, Landon Packard and Pearson each hit an RBI single. One run scored on a wild pitch.

Himuro singled for the Bearcats and Mason Fessler (Fr., 3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the sixth. Gordie Clary (Jr., UT, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) smacked an RBI double down the left field line. Jack Brett (Fr., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) brought in Fessler on a groundout.

Garrett Brown (1-0) tossed the first six innings for PLU to register the pitching victory. He allowed seven hits and two runs. He accumulated seven strikeouts. Ty Donahou pitched the final three innings for his first save. WU starter Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) fell to 3-1 with the loss.

Packard finished the game 4 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs. Nilson was 4 for 6, scored three times and had one RBIs. Bearson amassed six RBIs, while going 2 for 4 with a homer and one run scored. Willamette was led by Gallant, who went 2 for 2 with a pair of singles. Clary was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBIs.