Lau Has Seven Hits as Bearcats Split Sunday Doubleheader With George Fox

Newberg, Ore. - Willamette Baseball split its final doubleheader of the season, losing game one 7-6 to George Fox and rebounding to win 13-8 in game two.  Preston Lau had seven hits on the day to lead the Bearcats, going 5-for-5 in the opening game.  Charlie Ferbet led the team with three hits, three runs scored, and three RBI in game two.

The first game was scoreless in the opening innings until the host Bruins broke through with two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Willamette got one back in the next half-inning when Drew Baskin beat out a double play attempt that allowed Rocco Granucci to score.  Then, in the top of the fifth, Lau singled home Liam O'Connor to tie the score 2-2.

George Fox pulled back ahead in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI double and doubled their lead to 6-2 on a two-run home run in the sixth.  Again, the Bearcats scored in the next inning on another RBI single by Lau and Trevor Sostman tied the game at six in the top of the eighth with a three-run home run to right that scored Granucci and Tassos Foster.

Willamette threatened again in the ninth after Lau singled and Foster walked to put two runners on with one out.  The Bearcats were unable to bring a run home and the game headed to the bottom of the ninth.  The Bruins were able to score on a two-out, RBI single to take game one, 7-6.

The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead in game two with three consecutive singles by Nate Hamburger, Lau, and Luke Piazza to score one run.  Willamette picked up two more runs in the second inning after Drew Baskin walked and Charlie Ferbet singled to lead off the inning and both eventually came home on wild pitches to put the Bearcats ahead 3-0.

GFU picked up one run in the bottom of the third, but Willamette broke things open in the fourth.  After Ferbet singled, Hamburger walked with two outs and both players came home on a single by Lau.  Control issues continued to plague the Bruin pitching staff as Piazza was hit by a pitch, Foster walked, and Lau scored on a wild pitch.  Two more walks to Granucci and Baskin brought home another run to make the score 7-1 after four innings.  

The Bearcats scored another four in the sixth to pull ahead 11-1.  After loading the bases on two hit batters and a walk, Ferbet singled to drive home Piazza and Foster.  After Beckett Montgomery was hit by a pitch, Granucci scored on a passed ball and Joshua Murphy brought home the fourth run on a sacrifice fly.

The Bruins cut the lead to 11-7 in the bottom of the eighth, but Willamette scored a couple of runs in the ninth when Foster tripled home Piazza and scored on a single by Granucci.  George Fox got one more run in the bottom of the ninth to make the final score 13-8.

This was the final game for twelve Bearcats and the group accounted for ten of Willamette's eleven hits, eleven of the thirteen runs, and all nine runs batted in for the game.  All twelve played in the game, with nine making appearances at the plate and three pitching in relief.

Willamette ends the season with an overall record of 15-22, 12-12 in the Northwest Conference.  They finished tied for fifth in the conference standings, one gam out of the conference tournament.