Koon Smacks 3-Run Homer once again in 4-2 Victory over Linfield

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

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- For the second consecutive season, Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) belted a three-run homer to help Willamette University claim a road victory over archrival Linfield College, as the Bearcats won 4-2 on Sunday, March 29 at Roy Helser Field.

Koon's three-run shot gave WU a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning of Sunday's game. He finished 3 for 4 with a run and four RBIs. Last year, on March 8, 2014, Koon blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning for a 4-1 lead in Willamette's 7-3 triumph against the Wildcats.

With the win, Willamette advanced to 17-7 overall, including 10-6 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are tied with University of Puget Sound, also 10-6, for third place in the NWC standings. Whitworth University leads the NWC with an 11-4 record, while Pacific Lutheran University is second at 12-6.

Linfield, ranked #24 in the D3baseball.com Top 25, fell to 18-9 overall and to 8-7 in the NWC. The Wildcats and George Fox University (8-7), are tied for fifth place in the conference. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the NWC Tournament.

Koon wasn't the only Bearcat to contribute a stellar performance on Sunday.

Pitcher Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) threw a complete game and improved to 4-2, while allowing Linfield just six hits and two walks. He struck out two batters, giving him a team-high 44 strikeouts this season.

Catcher Brad Breier (Sr., Torrance, CA/South HS) threw out Corey VanDomelen and David Mason on Linfield's only stolen bases attempts, and the WU defense registered two double plays.

Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) went 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Mason Fessler (Fr., DH/3B, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) finished 2 for 3 with a walk.

VanDomelen led Linfield's offense for the third consecutive game by going 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. The rest of the LC lineup earned a total of three hits, including the team's only extra-base hit, a double by Scott Hilpert to start the bottom of the ninth inning.

After the Bearcats went down in order to start the game, VanDomelen singled to open the bottom of the first inning. Mason struck out and then VanDomelen was thrown out attempting to steal second base.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Gallant sent a double down the left field line. Koon batted next and singled to right field to drive in Gallant for a 1-0 lead. Fessler singled to right field, but a groundout ended the threat.

Mason singled to begin Linfield's half of the fourth inning. While Eric Lawson batted, Mason attempted to steal second, but he was thrown out by Breier.

WU gained insurance on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) hit a one-out single to right field. Gallant also singled to right, advancing Himuro to third. Linfield starter Riley Newman, who gave up five hits in 5 1/3 innings was replaced by Garrett Miller.

Koon took Miller's first pitch over the fence in the left field power alley. Himuro and Gallant also scored as WU increased its lead to 4-0. Fessler singled to left and Jordan Ramp (Sr., LF/RHP, Sherwood, OR/Sherwood HS/Saddleback College) provided a sacrifice bunt, but Breier grounded out to end the inning.

VanDomelen singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Willamette used a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. Watt faced just three batters in the seventh and threw only five pitches to put out three batters in the eighth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Hilpert's double went just past a diving Gallant near third base, as the ball stayed inches inside the line on its way through the infield. Van Domelen singled to right to bring home Hilpert with Linfield's first run. After Mason flied out, Lawson walked to put runners at first and second.

Ben Andrews earned a base hit to left field to score VanDomelen and to move Lawson to second. Watt forced Scott Schepige to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

The Bearcats are set to play at crosstown rival Corban University on Tuesday, March 31 at 4 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will host NWC rival Pacific University in one game on Friday, April 3 and two games on Saturday, April 4. Action will get underway at 3 p.m. on Friday and at 12 p.m. on Saturday.