Bearcats Edge Pacific 6-4 in 10 Innings, take Lead on Sacrifice Fly by Daly

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) of Willamette University scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Samuel Daly (Jr., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) in the top of the 10th inning to beak a 4-4 tie, and the Bearcats went on to defeat Pacific University, 6-4, on Sunday, April 10 at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. After losing a pair of one-run games on Saturday, the Bearcats prevailed in the final game of the series in an extra inning. It was Willamette's first extra-inning game of the season. 

Willamette ended the day at 16-16 on the season, 12-12 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 22-11 overall, 13-8 in the NWC.

Fischel hit an infield single to start the 10th inning and went to third on a single through the left side by Hoffman. Fischel scored the go-ahead run when Daly belted a sacrifice fly to right field. Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) reached base on a dropped fly ball in shallow right field. Hoffman moved to third and Topping advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hoffman scored an insurance run on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS). Topping also attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate.

Willamette kept the Boxers off the scoreboard in the bottom of the 10th. Relief pitcher Ben Kowalski (Jr., RHP, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), who went to the mound with one out in the eighth inning, began the 10th frame by striking out Isaac Lovings. Ty Yukumoto walked and Damon Tanner hit an infield single toward third base, putting runners at first and second. Kowalski forced Brad Altomare to fly out to right field for the second out and then struck out pinch-hitter Drew Thomas to end the game.

Kowalski upped his record to 3-0 and reduced his earned run average to 3.14, while allowing two hits and no runs in 2 1/3 innings. WU starter Chase Banks (Fy., RHP, Visalia, CA/Redwood HS) gave up eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- in five innings. Pacific relief pitcher Liam Cammall, who tossed the final three innings for the Boxers, moved to 0-3 with the loss. Derek Eubanks, who started for Pacific, allowed six hits and four runs -- three earned -- while throwing 4 2/3 innings.

"We pitched well, played good defense, and had timely hitting. That's a good formula for a win," Willamette University Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "Banks mixed his pitches very well. Kowalski got out of jams by making big pitches."

The Bearcats earned a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Daly struck out to open the stanza, but reached first on a passed ball. He went to second on a single by Topping. Both runners moved up another base on a wild pitch. One out later, Tassos Foster (So., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS) reached first and advanced to second on a pitcher's two-base error. Daly and Topping scored on the play. Pacific cut the margin in half in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Krout hit a leadoff single and scored on a double by Lovings.

WU extended its lead to 4-1 in the fifth. The inning began with three singles in a row from Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), and Fischel. The single by Fischel drove Wagner across the plate. Hoffman hit into a 5-4-3 double play that left Werkmeister-Martin at third base. Werkmeister-Martin scored when Daly singled to right field.

Pacific gradually rallied, scoring two runs in the sixth inning and plating a run in the eighth inning to tie the score at 4-4.

In the sixth, Krout connected for an RBI triple and later scored on an error with two outs. Despite recording back-to-back singles by Wagner and Werkmeister-Martin to begin the seventh inning, the Bearcats were unable to score, as a double play and a ground out ended the threat. In the eighth, Yukumoto hit an RBI double for the Boxers, as Jordan Hara scored.

Wagner topped Willamette's offense with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate to go along with a run scored. Fischel was 2 of 4 with a walk, a run, and an RBI. Werkmeister-Martin went 2 for 5 with a run scored on offense and led WU with 10 putouts at first base on defense. For Pacific, the Boxers received two hits apiece from Krout, Lovings, Altomare, and Tyler Quinn. Krout had the game's only triple, while Lovings hit two doubles.

The Bearcats will host Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) in a doubleheader at John Lewis Field in Salem, Oregon, on Saturday, April 16. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats and the Sagehens will play one game on Sunday, April 17 starting at 11 a.m.