Bearcats Take 4-3 Lead, but Linfield Scores Three Runs in 9th Inning for 6-4 Win

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning against Linfield University on Sunday, April 3, but the Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Bearcats 6-4. The Northwest Conference win at John Lewis Field improved Linfield's record to 14-13 on the season, 10-8 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 14-14 overall, 11-10 in the NWC.

The NWC baseball standings show Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific University tied for first place at 11-7, while Linfield and George Fox University are tied for third place at 10-8. Willamette is fifth at 11-10 and Lewis & Clark College is sixth at 9-9. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the NWC Tournament, set for April 22-24 at the site of the highest seed.

Willamette will complete its NWC schedule with three games at Pacific in Forest Grove, Oregon, next weekend, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9 at 12 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats and the Boxers will play one game on Sunday, April 10 at 12 p.m.

The Bearcats broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning when Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) walked with two outs, stole second base, and scored on a single to center field by Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS).

In the top of the ninth, Linfield took advantage of one hit and two errors to score three runs and take the lead. Cameron Skinner walked to open the stanza and Cooper Browning pinch-ran. Jackson Horner lined out to shortstop Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) for the first out. Garrett Moen reached first on a throwing error from second base, as Browning went to second. Tanner Jacques belted a doubled down the left field line to score both runners. Jacques went to third on the throw home. After Mike LaVigne flied out to second, Branden Pasion reached base on an error at third, as Jacques scored. Daniel Kahn struck out swinging to end the inning.

Linfield relief pitcher Colton Meyer, who tossed the final three innings, faced just three Bearcats in the bottom of the ninth. Meyer improved to 4-0 on the season. WU reliever JD Willis (So., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS), who entered the game in the sixth inning and threw 3 1/3 innings, fell to 2-1 with the loss. Meyer and Willis each stuck out three batters.

WU scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third on three consecutive singles with one out. Samuel Daly (Jr., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) started the string of base hits with a single down the right field line, and Rocco Granucci (Fy., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) followed with a single to right. Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) drove in Daly with a single to left.

Linfield grabbed a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth on three hits and two errors. Jacob Campos recorded two RBIs on a single through the left side, and then advanced to second when the ball was misplayed. Campos later scored when Cage Hardy into an error at second base.

Willamette earned two extra-base hits on their way to scoring two runs in the fourth inning to tie the score. Fischel pounded a double to start the inning and Hoffman smacked a two-run homer one out later.

The Wildcats outhit Willamette 10-6 in the game. Hoffman's home run and Fischel's double led the Bearcats. Hoffman scored two runs and earned two RBIs. WU players with a single included Werkmeister-Martin, Wagner, Daly, and Granucci. Wyatt Smith was 3 of 4 for Linfield with a run scored. Kahn went 3 of 5 and scored one run for the Wildcats.