Ninth Inning Homer Lifts Corban over Willamette

WU wins season series with Warriors, three games to one.

Brett Timmerman Photo: Corban Athletics

SALEM - Brett Timmerman of Corban College hit a three-run homer, his first of the season, with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Warriors to an 8-7 victory over Willamette University on Tuesday at John Lewis Field.

Willamette led 7-5 prior to Timmerman's homer, which cleared the right field fence to give Corban the lead.

The Bearcats fell to 17-20 with the loss, while Corban improved to 12-28-1.

Even with the loss, the Bearcats won the season series with their crosstown rivals, 3-1.

Willamette won 9-7 at home on Feb. 3rd, then claimed a 5-4 win at Corban on April 3rd, before downing the Warriors 8-5 at John Lewis Field on April 17th.

In the final meeting of the season, Corban led 1-0 after scoring in the top of the second inning.

Jeremy Frantz pounded out a leadoff double and later scored on a single by Doug Gausepohl. WU tied the game in the fourth inning, when David Tufo walked and later scored on a double play.

The Bearcats took a 2-1 lead to innings later. Sean Anderson was hit by a pitch to open the stanza, then stole second base.

He advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Colin Young. The Warriors survived giving up three walks during the inning, as Willamette left three runners on base.

WU was limited to just one hit in the first six innings, but earned three hits in the seventh and two more in the eighth. The Bearcats also walked nine times.

Corban took a 5-2 lead by tallying four unearned runs in the top of the seventh.

With two outs the Warriors had not yet scored during the inning and had Zack James at second base. Owen Frasier sent the fourth pitch he faced toward shortstop, but the ball was misplayed and went into the outfield.

James scored from second. Later, Josh Warner hit a two-RBI single and Frantz drove in another run with a single to right field.

The Bearcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead.

Kelly Gilmore started the rally by reaching on an error at shortstop. He scored an unearned run when Tufo followed with a double down the left field line.

McGee drove in the second run with an infield hit and Young brought in the final two runs with a double to center field.

In the top of the ninth, Jamie McGraw reached base on a bunt single, but was thrown out when Warner hit into a fielder's choice.

Craig Spicer singled to put runners at first and second. Franz filed out to right field, before Timmerman moved the Warriors into the lead with his three-run homer.

Scott Fitchett (4-4), who threw the final 2 2/3 innings for Corban, faced only three batters in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Darren Johnson was 3 for 4 for the Warriors, while McGraw, Spicer and Frantz finishes with two hits apiece. The Warriors earned a total of 13 hits.

Willamette received one hit each from six different players,including doubles by Gilmore, Tufo, Young and Ryan Peterson. Relief pitcher Jimmy Meuel fell to 1-2 with the pitching loss.

The Bearcats close out the season on Thursday in McMinnville, Ore., against Lewis & Clark College.

WU and Lewis & Clark will complete their Northwest Conference game that was suspended on Feb. 11th (WU leads 5-3 in the middle of the seventh inning) and will play a 9-inning, non-conference game.

The action, hosted by Linfield College, will get underway at 6:00 PM.

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