PORTLAND, Ore- The Lewis & Clark Baseball team battled Willamette today in a Northwest Conference double header at Huston Sports Complex losing game one 22-8 and game two 4-1. The Pioneers move to 5-10-1 overall with a 2-6 Northwest Conference record while the Bearcats currently sit at 12-9 overall with a 6-4 conference record.

 

 

Ryan Strombom (0-3) takes the loss for the Pioneers on the mound today pitching four and two third innings giving up ten runs on ten hits, while walking three and striking out three. Kyle Tibbett, Ej Hand, Stein Retzlaff, and Corey Davis all saw some time on the mound today as well.

 

Tyler Olson (2-1) takes the win for the Bearcats pitching a solid six innings allowing four runs off seven hits, while walking two. Eland Tsubata and Jordan Ramp saw some time on the mound for the Bearcats as well.

 

The scoreboard lit up in the third inning for the first time as the Bearcats put six runs on six hits and an error. The fourth in brought in two more runs when Brandon Chinn doubled down the right field line and was hit in on a Ty Wyatt homer to right center.

 

The Pioneers started to claw their way back as they scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Hayden Higger led off the inning singling up the middle and advanced to second on single hit by Davis. Tommy Massari loaded the bases with his single to center field after Andrew Traver flied out. With the bases loaded, Jacob Burton reached on a fielders' choice that scored Higger from third.  All three runners then advanced one base on a wild pitch, including a run scored by Davis. A ground out to the pitcher by Ben Beck scored Massari for the final run of the inning.

 

The Bearcats scored two more in the fifth off two hits. Back-to-back doubles by Higger and Davis scored a run for the Pioneers in the bottom of the fifth making the score 10-4. 

 

Willamette scored every inning after the third, making it nearly impossible to come back. In the sixth they scored two runs off one hit, and in the seventh scored one run without a hit using two walks, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice fly in their favor. The top of the eight brought another heavy hit of eight runs off five hits and an error and added one more in the ninth to help close the deal off two hits and an error making their total run count twenty-two.

 

Using hits by Massari, Bradley Lezak, and Matthew Cathcart the Pioneers scored two in the eighth and in the ninth, Massari doubled, Burton singled and Drake Gilliland tacked on hits and two more runs on the board to total their count to eight and the final score 22-8.

 

The Pioneers finished with eight hits led by Massari with three, Higger, Cathcart, Davis, and Burton each finished with two, while Lezak, and Gilliland each tacked on one a piece.

 

 

Starter John Trupin (3-2) pitched eight innings for the Pioneers giving up four runs on twelve hits, while walking two and striking out two. Aaron Landecker pitched the ninth inning striking out two. The Bearcats pitcher Matt Jepsen (4-3) takes the win, pitching a complete game giving up one run off seven hits, while striking out six.

 

The Bearcats big inning was in the fourth when they scored three runs off three hits. Tiras Koon started the inning with a single to right field, advancing to second on a wild pitch, and ending up on third on a ground out. Brad Breier singled up the middle scoring Koon from third. Shea Harrison walked putting two runners on for Tommy Kawamura who doubled to center scoring both runners making the score 3-0. Scoring again in the seventh, the Bearcats used three hits to tally one run.

 

The only run the Pioneers could post was in the eighth. Lezak singled to center and scored on a Michael Kinkenon double to left center. Kinkenon finished the game with two hits and an RBI, while Lezak, Massari, Davis, Carter Bagley, and Burton all finished with one respectively.

 

The Pioneers take on the Bearcats for game three of the three game series tomorrow March 23 at Huston Sports Complex beginning at noon.