A five run eighth and six run ninth was not enough for the Pioneers as they fell 15-13 (box score) in game one at Willamette on Saturday.

Game two was suspended in the sixth inning (due to darkness) with the Pioneers trailing 4-3.

The Pioneers fell 15-13 in game one of their Northwest Conference opener against the Willamette Bearcats. The game started quietly, with the Bearcats breaking a 0-0 deadlock with a home run to lead off the fourth inning of starter Jordon Smiley (senior, Las Vegas, Nevada). Willamette loaded the bases with no outs, scoring another two runs to go up 3-0 before the Pioneers got out of the inning.

The Pioneers scored an unearned run in the fifth to make it a 3-1 game. Willamette answered with a solo shot by Kevin Stalker to lead off the bottom of the inning, going back up three, 4-1.
The tameness of the game came to a halt in the sixth inning. Kevin Stalker hit a grand slam, his second home run of the game, accounting for four of the six runs the Bearcats scored to take a 10-1 lead. The Bearcats, fueled by Stalker's third home run of the game, this one a three-run shot, scored five runs in the seventh to lead 15-2.

Then it was the Pioneers' turn to turn on the offense. The Pioneers hit five straight singles to lead off the top of the eighth. They scored five runs in the inning on only one extra-base hit, a double down the left field line by TJ Witkowski (sophomore, Toeele, Utah), to make it a 15-7 game.

In the top of the ninth, it was more fireworks for the Pioneers scoring six runs with two outs in the inning. The Pioneers used three walks, three singles, and two doubles to plate the six runs, but a flyout to center end the Pioneers' rally with the team still down a pair.
Sam Holman (freshman, Eugene, Ore,) was 4-4 with 4 RBI. Tucker Laurence (freshman, San Martin, Calif.) was 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI.
Jordon Smiley took the loss, working 5.1, allowing six runs (5ER) on 7 hits, walking five, striking out four.

The Pioneers and Bearcats will finish off the suspended game tomorrow prior to playing their two scheduled seven-inning games in Salem. First pitch will be at 11 am.