Sixth Inning Surge Allows Willamette The Series Sweep
Box Score
SALEM, Ore. – Willamette broke open a pitcher's duel with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday, led the Bearcats to a 5-1 victory over Pacific to finish a sweep of their Northwest Conference baseball series at John Lewis Field.
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The score was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the fifth when the Bearcats took the lead for good. Rolenn Himuro led off the inning with a single up the middle. He was sacrifice to second before Tommy Kawamura walked and Brandon Chinn was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hunter Gallant followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Himuro from third.
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The Bearcats put the game out of reach with their two-run sixth. The first three batters of the inning singled, with Brad Breier laying down a bunt single. The Boxers threw the ball away trying to put Breier out at first, allowing Tosh Semlacher and Tiras Koon to score. Willamette added one in the eighth when Koon doubled and scored on Semlacher's single.
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Pacific scored their only run in the first inning.Â
Donnie Bradley (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) laid down a bunt single with one out and advanced to second on an error. He then scored
Nick Garrett's (So., San Diego, Calif.) infield single.
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Kyle Treadway (Jr., Phoenix, Ore.) took the pitching loss for Pacific, dropping to 2-4 on the season. He allowed five runs, two earned, on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings of work. Peter Hoffman earned his third win of the season by allowing one unearned run on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts in the complete game effort.
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Bradley and Strayer each had two hits to lead the Boxers at the plate. Semlacher's 3 for 4 performance led Willamette.
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Pacific returns to action next weekend, hosting Whitman in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for noon both days.
