NWC Baseball: Willamette Downs Pacific, 5-2

Colin Young smacks 2-run homer in third inning.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - Junior right-handed pitcher Tye Sundlee struck out nine batters in a complete-game performance, Matt Rasmussen drove in three runs and Colin Young belted a two-run homer in the third inning, as Willamette University defeated Pacific University on Monday.

The Northwest Conference win at John Lewis Field improved the Bearcats to 17-19 overall, 9-14 in the NWC. Pacific fell to 12-24 overall, including 5-16 in the NWC.

Sundlee, who improved to 5-3 on the season, allowed just five hits and two walks during the game. He held Pacific off the scoreboard until the Boxers tallied both of their runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Rasmussen drove in Willamette's first three runs. He gave the Bearcats a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when his single to left center brought home Sean Anderson and Grant Yamaguchi.

WU created all of its first-inning success with two outs. Anderson sent the first pitch he faced through the middle of the infield, then Yamaguchi doubled down the right field line.

Pacific starter Tyler Fransen gave up the two-RBI single to Rasmussen, then got out of the inning without further damage.

In the bottom of the third, David Tufo and Anderson opened the stanza with back-to-back walks.

Fransen committed a balk, moving the runners to second and third. Rasmussen then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tufo for a 3-0 lead.

Young followed with his second homer of the season -- and second in as many days -- as WU's lead increased to 5-0. Young blasted a three-run homer in Willamette's 9-7 win over the Boxers in Sunday's second game.

Pacific moved within three runs in the eighth. Zach Gantenbein walked to start the inning, moved to second on a passed ball and eventually scored on a ground out by Ryan Bailey.

Nick McNeely provided the Boxers with their second run by hitting a solo homer to center field. It was his fifth home run of the season. Sundlee struck out Scott Yasumoto to end the threat.

Sundlee walked Joey Pulito to begin the ninth inning, but struck out the next batter, Frankie Guros. Sundlee then got Korey Yost to to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to conclude the game.

Each team managed just five hits and only two players recorded more than one hit during the game.

Rasmussen was 2 for 3 with three RBIs for the Bearcats. Yost went 2 for 3 for the Boxers.

Willamette will play its final home game on Tuesday against Corban College. Game time at John Lewis Field is set for 4:00 PM.

The Bearcats will conclude the season on Thursday, when they travel to McMinnville, Ore., to take on Lewis & Clark College at 6:00 PM in the continuation of a game suspended on Feb. 11th.

The teams also will play a non-conference game later that night. Linfield College is providing a neutral site for Thursday's action.

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