Bearcats Sweep Season Series with Linfield, Defeat Wildcats, 7-2

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

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University defeated Northwest Conference rival Linfield College, 7-2, on Friday, April 8. The win allowed the Bearcats to complete a season sweep of the Wildcats. WU also downed Linfield, 6-3, on March 5 in Salem, Ore.

The Bearcats, ranked #11 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, upped their overall record to 11-5, while moving to 10-1 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 6-8 overall, 5-7 in the NWC.

Willamette played well in doubles, as the Bearcats won all three matches. At #1 doubles, Michael Baumgartner (So., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Matthew Houser (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) defeated Mark Magdaong and Brent Kingzett, 8-3.

The #2 doubles match was decided in a tie-breaker, as Joshua Wong (So., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) and Cody Ferguson (Jr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) of WU outlasted Tal DeWitt and Zachery Lyons of Linfield, 9-8 (7-4).

At #3 doubles, Garrett Vincent (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep/Bellevue CC) and Cameron Thompson (So., Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS) of WU edged out Tim Wagar and Ian Rapport, 8-6.

Willamette also won four of the six singles matches.

Wong led the charge with a victory over DeWitt, 6-4, 6-0, at #2 singles. Ferguson claimed #3 singles for the Bearcats, 6-4, 6-1, against Kingzett, while Houser won #4 singles versus Wagar, 6-4, 6-2. Vincent downed Lyons, 6-4, 6-3 at #5 singles.

In the top singles match, Magdaong of Linfield held off Willamette's Michael Baumgartner, 6-4, 6-4. The Wildcats also won #6 singles, where Matthew Hipperson defeated Will Cooper (Fr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS), 6-2, 6-1.

The Bearcats will conclude the regular season on Saturday, April 9 by hosting George Fox University at the WU Tennis Courts. Match time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT), but will change to 4 p.m. if the match has to move to the Courthouse Tennis Club due to the weather.