The Pioneers fell 8-4 (box score) in the
continuation of Saturday's suspended game against the Willamette
Bearcats. They lost 9-1 (box score) to the
Bearcats in the first of their two scheduled seven-inning games
before pulling out a 10-8 (box score) victory in
the final game.
The Pioneers started the day picking up Saturday's suspended
game. Willamette scored two runs in the second and two in the fifth
to take a 4-0 lead in the game. The Pioneers rallied for three runs
in the top of the sixth. AJ Brown (junior, Vancouver, Wash.) led
off the inning with a walk. Jordan Wlodarczyk (junior, Lake Oswego,
Ore.) belted a home run to cut the deficit to 4-2. Chris Estrella
(senior, Henderson, Nevada) singled, scoring later in the inning on
a pass ball, to make it 4-3, before the game was called due to
darkness.
When the game resumed Sunday morning, Neal Finch (junior, Boulder,
Colo.), taking over for AJ Brown, doubled down the left field line
to start the sixth, later scoring on a sac fly from the bat of Sami
Morgan (sophomore, San Mateo, Calif.) to tie the game 4-4.
Willamette scored four runs in the eighth inning with the Pioneers
walking four men in the inning. The Bearcats won 8-4.
Dan Meehan (senior, Lake Oswego, Calif.) took the loss, working
6.0 combined innings (over the two days), allowing four hits, six
runs (all earned, walking 11, and striking out 4.
The third game of the series was an 9-1 loss for the Pioneers in
seven innings. After giving up a home run in the first, the
Pioneers tied the game in the second. Tucker Laurence (freshman,
San Martin, Calif.) singled to right to lead off the inning. Sami
Morgan followed with a single up the middle to score Laurence,
tying the game 1-1. Willamette scored three in the third, one in
the fifth, and three more in the sixth to earn the 9-1 victory.
Alex St. Pierre (freshman, Laguna Hills, Calif.) took the loss,
working five innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits,
walking three, and striking out two.
In the final game of the series, another seven-inning game, the
Pioneers earned a 10-8 victory over the Bearcats.
After Willamette jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, the
Pioneers answered with a five-run third. The Pioneers scored five
runs on five hits in the inning, including doubles from Jordan
Shibata, Sami Morgan, and AJ Brown. The Pioneers added four more
runs in the next inning, with a two-run shot by Shibata followed
later by a two-run shot by Jordan Wlodarczyk giving the Pioneers a
9-2 lead.
The Bearcats chipped away at the lead, scoring two in the bottom
of the fourth and a pair in the bottom of the fifth.
The Pioneers added an insurance run in the sixth. Singles by AJ
Brown and Sam Holman (freshman, Eugene, Ore.) and a walk loaded the
bases. Mike Orr (senior, Boulder, Colo.) got the RBI when he walked
to drive in Brown.
Willamette got the first three runners aboard in the bottom of the
seventh, before the Pioneers went to the pen, bringing in Evan
Fairmont (junior, Boulder, Colo.). Fairmont did not allow a hit,
earning his first collegiate save as he wrapped up the 10-8 victory
for the Pioneers.
Tucker Laurence earned the victory, working 5.0 innings,
allowing nine hits, six runs (five earned), walking three, and
striking out four.
Jordan Wlodarczyk had six hits in the three games, going 6-13
with two home runs and five runs driven in. Jordan Shibata
was 4-12 with a home run and 3 RBI.
The Pioneers home opener is next weekend when they host the
George Fox Bruins for a four game series Saturday and Sunday, March
8-9, at the Huston Sports Complex.
