Fischel Belts a Solo Home Run, the 27th of his Career, in Loss to Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) of Willamette University smacked a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to reduce Pacific University's lead to 3-1, but the Boxers pulled away defeat the Bearcats, 18-1, in a non-conference game on Friday, April 28. Both teams compete in the Northwest Conference. Pacific improved to 24-12, while Willamette fell to 20-14.

Fischel has hit five home runs this season and 27 home runs in his career. He is tied for fifth with Mitch Rowan (2009-12) on Willamette's career home run list. Current teammate Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) leads this year's team with eight homers and is tied with Connor Bailey (2016-19) for third all-time with 29.

The Boxers plated one run in each of the first three innings. In the first, Tyler Quinn hit a leadoff double and later scored with one out on a double by Ty Yukumoto. Matt Gibbs blasted a leadoff homer in the second inning, and Quinn hit a solo homer to start the third inning. Fischel belted his homer over the left field fence near the foul line with two outs in the sixth.

Davis Koester, Yukumoto, and CJ Colyer combined for three consecutive singles to open the bottom of the sixth, as Pacific upped its lead to 4-1.

Six unearned runs in the seventh inning gave the Boxers a 10-1 lead. With one out and runners at first and second Koester hit a ground ball that was misplayed at second base. With the bases-loaded, Yukumoto walked to force in a run. After Colyer struck out, Isaac Lovings hit a grand slam home run. Later in the inning, Robert Drayer hit an RBI double.

Pacific completed the scoring with eight runs on five hits in the eighth inning. Colyer supplied the Boxers with a two-run double and Quinn provided a bases-clearing triple.

Will Clark, the starting pitcher for Pacific, threw seven innings and allowed just one run and two hits. He struck out five batters, allowed two walks, and hit one batter. Clark upped his record to 7-2. Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), who started for Willamette, fell to 4-4 on the season after giving up four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Fischel was 1 of 4 for the Bearcats with his solo home run. Carl Lawson (Jr., RF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) finished 1 for 3 with a single. For Pacific, Quinn went 4 for 6 while hitting for the cycle, scoring four runs, and earning four RBIs. Yukumoto and Colyer each recorded two hits.

Willamette will take on Whitworth University in a non-conference game at John Lewis Field on Saturday, April 29. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. (PDT).