Koon and Gallant Belt Homers, as Bearcats Defeat Bruins, 11-1, in First Game

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

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) smacked a three-run homer and Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) added a solo home run, as Willamette University defeated George Fox University, 11-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28. WU scored seven runs in the ninth inning to pull away.

In the second game, Austin Hagarty (Jr., 2B, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) blasted the first home run of his Willamette career, helping the Bearcats sweep the doubleheader with a 6-0 victory. Hagarty pounded out a two-run shot in the seventh inning for 4-0 lead.

Willamette upped its record to 12-0, including 5-0 in the NWC. George Fox dropped to 5-7 on the season, 3-2 in the NWC.

The Bearcats received solid pitching throughout the afternoon.

Peter Hoffman (Sr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) started the first game and threw eight innings. He allowed seven hits and one unearned run, while striking out six batters. Connor Loar (Fr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) opened the second game and went seven innings, with four strikeouts and four hits allowed.

Hoffman improved to 2-0, while Loar moved to 3-0. Andrew Koumelis (Jr., LHP, Roseville, CA/Jesuit HS/Sacramento City College) did not give up a hit and struck out two batters in the ninth inning of the first game. Tyler Olson (Sr., RHP, Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) struck out four batters and allowed two hits in the final two innings of the second game.

The first game was scoreless until Koon unleashed his three-run homer in the third inning. The entire rally occurred with two outs, as Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) singled to center and Gallant reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman. Koon batted next and sent the ball over the fence in left field.

Gallant led off the fifth inning with a powerful homer that easily cleared the left field fence. Koon followed with a single, and Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) added a single with one out, but both runners were left on base.

The Bruins cut the lead to 4-1 with a run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and Clay Mott running at first, Jacob Woehler singled to center. Mott moved to second, and then scored one batter later on a wild throw from shortstop to third base.

Willamette pulled away by scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth. With one out, Gallant reached base on an error at third. After Gallant stole second, Koon sent an RBI single up the middle. Koon later scored when the ball was misplayed following a single to right field by Breier.

The inning featured a total of four hits and three errors. Himuro provided the final hit with a three-run double to left center.

Koon was 3 for 5 in the opener with two runs and four RBIs. Himruo finished 2 for 5, while scoring one run and recording three RBIs. Breier also went 2 for 5 and scored once. Gallant tallied three runs. For George Fox, AJ Valencia was 2 for 4 and Woehler was 2 for 4. The Bearcats outhit the Bruins, 12-7.

GFU starting pitcher Ian Buckles suffered the loss in the first game and fell to 2-2 on the season. He allowed eight hits and four runs -- one earned -- in six innings on the mound. He had seven strikeouts and gave up two walks.

In the second game, WU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Shea Harrison (Jr., RHP/OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) was hit by a pitch with one out. Harrison reached second on a passed ball and later scored with two outs on a double by Troy Conway (Fr., INF, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS).

The Bearcats added a run in the fifth inning. Hagarty walked and then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harrison. Nate Bush (Fr., INF, Boise, ID/Boise HS) drove in Hagarty with a single to center field. In the bottom of the sixth, Ansel Webster was hit by a pitch with two outs and Mason Dunning singled for GFU, but Loar forced a groundout to end the inning.

Hagarty increased WU's lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh. Breier, who started the stanza with a single up the middle and went to third on a wild pick-off throw by the catcher, also scored on Hagarty's homer.

In the eighth inning, Breier added an RBI single and Hagarty provided a sacrifice fly, as the Bearcats completed the scoring.

A single by Dunning and a double by Andrew Reichenbach with one out in the bottom of the ninth, put runners at second and third for GFU. Olson ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts.

Breier led Willamette's attack in game two, as he went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Hagarty was 1 for 2 with two runs and a game-high three RBIs. Dunning was 2 of 2 and Reichenbach was 2 of 4 for the Bruins.

Willamette and George Fox will play the third game in the series on Sunday, March 1. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PST).