Box Score SALEM, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers built a one-run lead in the second inning before allowing eight runs by the Willamette Bearcats in the bottom half of the inning in a 15-7 defeat at John Lewis Field on Wednesday. The game did not count toward the Northwest Conference standings.
Senior Tommy Massari hit a two-run home run off Willamette starter Harbour Harrison in the second inning to give the Pios a brief 2-1 lead. Two innings later, Matt Donovan hit a RBI single, one of his three hits in as many at-bats, to give the Pioneers another two-run inning. Conner Sick also had a RBI in the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
Down 15-5, Lewis & Clark's Grant Mohn followed Massari's walk with a double and both later scored. Chandler Vieira hit a sacrifice fly before Cole Petters had a RBI single.
Both teams used seven-plus pitchers ahead of their NWC series on Apr. 14-15. Harrison (1-0) ended up with the win for Willamette (21-11; 13-5 NWC), while Andrew Yarak was the losing pitcher after allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Yarak is now 2-6 this season. Nat Richman had the longest outing for the Pios, throwing two innings.
Vieira had the third extra-base hit for Lewis & Clark (5-26; 4-14 NWC) n the sixth inning.
The Pioneers play their final NWC home series this weekend, hosting three conference games and one non-conference contest with Whitman beginning Saturday at noon at the Huston Sports Complex. Lewis & Clark's seniors will be recognized before the start of Sunday's doubleheader.
