WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Blues scored five runs in the ninth inning and loaded the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice out ended the game as the Whitman College baseball team fell 8-6 to Willamette on Sunday afternoon in Northwest Conference action at Borleske Stadium.
Garrett Runyan led the Blues (17-12, 8-9 NWC) with a hit, a run scored and three RBI including a bases-clearing double to ignite Whitman's rally attempt in the ninth. Ben Parker posted a hit and two runs and Beck Maguire added a hit, a run and an RBI.
Mateus Conaway (5-1) was solid through much of his outing but ran into trouble in the sixth inning and was tagged with the loss. He tossed five and two-thirds innings allowing four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Steven Verespey tossed five complete innings for the Bearcats and earned the win.
The Blues had a chance for a big first inning. Maguire, after base hits from Teague Conder and Parker, drew a walk to load the bases with only one out. The Blues would be unable to plate a run, however, as Jack Bickerton popped out and Garrett Runyan struck out swinging to end the inning.
The ensuing innings saw some fantastic defensive plays from the Blues. In the top of the second, AJ Romero gunned down Luke Werkmeister-Martin (2 H, 1 RBI) attempting to steal third with a perfect strike to Maguire. One inning later, Joaquin Hines made a diving, over-the-head snow cone catch chasing a pop fly into the outfield.
The Blues finally broke the stalemate with a run in the fifth inning. Parker was issued a base on balls then swiped second with one out. Maguire stroked a Verespey offering through the middle of the infield and drove home Parker for the game's first run.
The Bearcats responded with four runs one half inning later, knocking Conaway out of the game for Brayden Tagomori. Layton Wagner and Jonny Suchor both delivered two-run base hits to put Willamette up 4-1.
Trailing 8-1, the Blues came alive in the bottom of the ninth. Bickerton's walk loaded the bases before Runyan's big hit made it an 8-5 ball game. Romero's bloop single then drove home Runyan to cut the lead to two runs. Two batters later, Parker came to the plate with the bases loaded, but his sharp grounder was played to third for the force out to end the game.
Next up for the Blues is a midweek single game against Eastern Oregon. First pitch at Borleske Stadium on Tuesday, April 4 is set for 3:00 p.m.
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