Watt Named NWC Baseball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Jackson Watt (Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Baseball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week for his performance in a 2-1 non-conference win over Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Feb. 14. Watt threw all nine innings and improved to 2-0 on the season.

Against the Pioneers, Watt struck out nine batters and allowed seven hits (all singles). He gave up just one walk, which was in the ninth inning.

Watt achieved a 0.00 earned run average during the game. L&C's only run was unearned in the fourth inning and tied the score, 1-1. Aaron Fong (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of Willamette doubled and later scored in the eighth inning to give WU a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Watt forced a groundout before Bradley Lezak singled for the Pioneers. Michael Kinkenon struck out and Tommy Massari walked. Watt ended the game by getting Sean Shepherd to hit into a fielder's choice, with Massari thrown out at second base.

For the season, Watt is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. He has walked just two batters, one in each game.

Willamette is 7-0 on the season. The Bearcats began the year by winning four games at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in California before taking three games from Lewis & Clark last weekend.

The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Whitman College at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats will take on the Missionaries in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21 starting at 11 a.m. (PST). Wilalmette and Whitman will complete the series with one game on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m.