Occidental Defeats Willamette, 6-2, despite Koon's Ninth Home Run

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

SALEM, Ore. -- Occidental College pounded out 13 hits and forced Willamette University to leave 11 runners on base, as the Tigers defeated the Bearcats, 6-2, on Friday, April 10 at John Lewis Field. The contest opened a three-game series between the teams. The Bearcats and the Tigers are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) of Willamette hit his team-leading ninth homer of the season to start the second inning. The Bearcats scored just one more run, while leaving the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings. WU left two runners on base in the seventh inning and the ninth inning.

Willamette achieved nine hits overall. Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) was 3 for 5. Koon finished 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI. Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) also drove in a run for the Bearcats.

Koon's homer cleared the fence in right field and gave WU a 1-0 lead. Occidental moved in front of the Bearcats with three runs in the top of the third.

Jonathon Wong sent a double inside first base and down the right field line to open the stanza. Walker Marks bunted a sacrifice to the pitcher, but Wong beat the throw by Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) to third base. Marks reached first on the play. Charlie Caccamo provided another sacrifice bunt and was thrown out, as Wong scored and Marks reached second.

Marks stole third base, and then scored on a groundout by Jonathan Brooks. Victor Munoz singled and eventually scored on an infield hit by Jake Chambers.

WU pulled within 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) recorded an infield hit that forced Brooks at first base to dive toward second for the stop. A wild throw allowed Breier to take second base. Hagarty singled down the right field line to drive Breier across the plate.

Nate Bush (Fr., INF, Boise, ID/Boise HS) doubled to left field for Willamette with one out in the fourth, but a fly out to left center and a fly ball toward first ended the threat.

Brooks hit a leadoff homer to right center in the top of the fifth to extend the Tigers' advantage to 4-2. The Bearcats had a chance to get a rally going in the bottom of the stanza after Gallant hit a ground-rule double to left center with one out. Gallant attempted to steal third and was thrown out.

Koon followed with a single and Mason Fessler (Fr., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) walked. Josh Cohen of Occidental replaced starter Nolan Watson on the mound, but walked Gordie Clary (Jr., RF/RHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) to fill the bases. Cohen got Shea Harrison (Jr., RHP/OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) to ground out toward shortstop.

The Tigers added two runs for a 6-2 lead in the seventh inning. With one out, Caccamo singled. Brooks also singled and went to second on the throw, as Caccamo advanced to third. Munoz drove in Caccamo with a single to right. Brooks reached home later in the inning on a wild pitch.

WU put two runners on base with two outs in their next at bat. Fessler walked for the third time, and then Clary went to first on a fielding error at third. The ball deflected to the shortstop, who made an errant throw past first. Fessler when to third and Clary moved to second. A groundout ended the inning.

Munoz was 3 for 5 during the game for Occidental. He scored one run and earned one RBI. Caccamo was 2 for 3, while DeRaad and Wong finished 2 for 4. Brooks was 2 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs.

Cohen pitched two innings of middle relief to earn the win for Occidental. He did not allow a hit and walked three batters, while moving to 1-0 on the season.

Watt, now 4-3, pitched 6 1/3 innings for Willamette and allowed 12 hits and all six runs. He struck out four batters and gave up one walk. Eland Tsubata (Sr., LHP, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) allowed one hit, two walks and no runs in the final 2 2/3 innings.