Willamette Rallies Past Missionaries 4-3 in 11 Innings

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University earned two runs in the ninth inning to tie the game, and then scored the winning run in the 11th, as the Bearcats downed Whitman College, 4-3, in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, Feb. 22 at John Lewis Field. The Bearcats swept the three-game series with the Missionaries, including two wins in extra innings.

Cameron Igarashi (Fr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) hit a bases-loaded single with no outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to bring home Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) with the winning run.

Nate Bush (Fr., INF, Boise, ID/Boise HS) provided a two-run single through the right side of the infield with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game at 3-3 and send the contest into extra innings.

Willamette remained undefeated at 10-0 on the season and 3-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats are 4-0 in one-run games. Whitman fell to 1-6 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.

Whitman starting pitcher Will Thompson pitched great for the Missionaries until he was relieved after eight innings. He struck out five batters and allowed just four hits, one run and one walk.

The Missionaries gave Thompson a 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the top of the first inning.

With one out, Anthony Lim singled through the right side. He moved to second on a groundout by Adrian Vela and scored on a single up the middle by Peter Carmichael. Paul Heywood drove in Carmichael with a double to left field. Heywood finished the game 3 for 6 with three doubles and two RBIs.

In the second inning, Whitman left two runners on base when second baseman Troy Conway (Fr., Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) recorded the third out on a diving catch barely in foul territory behind first base.

The Missionaries left runners at second and third one inning later. Gordie Clary (Jr., UT, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) made a diving catch in shallow right field for the third out while colliding with Conway. Without the catch, both runners would have scored on the collision.

Heywood, who hit his second double in the third inning, connected for his third double with two outs in the fifth. Lim, who opened the inning by reaching first base on an infield error, scored an unearned run on the play.

Willamette tallied its first run in the bottom of the seventh. Designated hitter Mason Fessler (Fr., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) doubled to start the inning, and reached third on a wild pitch. Breier followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left field.

The Bearcats still trailed 3-1 in the ninth inning. With no outs, Clary was hit by a pitch and Fessler walked. Breier sent a sacrifice bunt toward third to advance the runners. Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) walked to load the bases.

Igarashi put down a squeeze bunt toward the pitcher, but Clary was unable to avoid the tag by catcher MacLean Harned at home plate. Bush tied the game with his two-run single.

Neither team scored in the 10th inning, although Clary doubled for WU with two outs in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the 11th, Clary went to the mound to pitch. After Carmichael earned a single with one out, Clary forced Heywood into a fly out and Tristan Cates into a groundout.

Breier singled through the left side to open the bottom of the 11th, and then Blake Lepire (Jr., UT, Vista, CA/Santa Ana College) was hit by a pitch. Bush followed with a bunt single near the plate and up the third base line. Breier beat the throw to third, while Bush went to first base, which was left uncovered. Igarashi batted next and recorded the game-winning hit.

Clary improved to 2-0 with the win. WU starter Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) went 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned).

Lucas Still (Fr., RHP, Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers HS) pitched the next 3 2/3 innings and gave up no runs, while forcing the Missionaries to leave six runners on base, including three in the seventh. Whitman finished with 15 runners left on base, while WU stranded 11.

Bush went 3 for 5 for WU at the plate. Breier finished 2 for 3 with a run, an RBI, a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. Clary and Fessler each smacked a double. For Whitman, Carmichael matched Heywood at 3 for 6. Carmichael doubled, scored a run and drove in a run.

Willamette will take on George Fox University in a three-game NWC series next weekend in Newberg, Ore. The teams, who are tied for first place in the NWC at 3-0, will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. (PST), followed by a single game on Sunday, March 1 at 12 p.m.