By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) earned three hits to lead Willamette University's 11-hit attack as the Bearcats defeated Whitman College, 8-6, in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, April 2 at Borleske Stadium. With the victory, the Bearcats swept the three-game series and improved to 18-7 overall, 13-5 in the NWC. Whitman dropped to 17-12 overall, 8-9 in the NWC.
Willamette entered the bottom of the ninth inning with an 8-1 lead, but the Blues started to rally. Closer Brady Joyner (Jr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) went to the mound with one out and WU leading 8-5. He faced five batters while holding off the Blues, who had the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate when the final out was recorded.
"It's tough to go on the road and win a series, especially against a good team," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "We again had contributions from a number of different guys on the offense and we were able to pitch out of jams.
In the NWC standings, the Bearcats' 13-5 record is one-half game behind conference leader Pacific University, which has a 14-5 NWC mark. Lewis & Clark College is third at 9-7, while Whitman is fourth at 8-9. Willamette has six more NWC games to play in the regular season, while Pacific has five more NWC games to play. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the NWC Tournament, set for April 21-23.
Werkmeister-Martin was 3 for 5 and drove home two runs during Sunday's win. He also led the team with 10 putouts at first base. Werkmeister-Martin went 7 for 11 for a .636 batting average during the series with three runs and nine RBIs.
Joyner allowed an inherited runner to score and gave up one walk and one hit batsman. He also registered one strikeout and caused Ben Parker of Whitman to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game. Parker hit the ball toward shortstop Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS), who threw to Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) at third base to put out Brock Williams. Joyner earned his eighth save, which leads the NWC. He is second on Willamette's all-time list with 17 saves in his career.
Neither team scored until Whitman produced one run in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Parker walked and stole second. He scored with two outs on a single by Beck Maguire. WU responded with four runs in the top of the sixth. The inning began with three consecutive walks. Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) and Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) each hit a two-RBI single during the offensive outburst for a 4-1 lead.
Willamette increased its advantage to 6-1 with two runs in the eighth inning and to 8-1 with a pair of runs in the ninth. Fischel singled and Hoffman walked to start the eighth. One out later, Werkmeister-Martin drove in Fischel with a single. Wagner batted next and sent Hoffman across the plate with another single. In the ninth, Hoffman and Werkmeister-Martin each earned an RBI single, while Rocco Granucci (So., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and Suchor scored.
Nathan Wilson was hit by a pitch to open the ninth for Whitman. Parker reached base on an error. Two walks forced in a run. Garrett Runyan followed with a three-run double into the right field corner. Joyner entered the game and struck out Joaquin Hines. The bases were loaded a bit later when the Bearcats recorded the final out.
Werkmeister-Martin's three hits led all players. Granucci was 2 of 4 and scored twice. Wagner finished 2 of 4 with three RBIs. Six players each had one hit for Whitman.
Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College in an NWC doubleheader at John Lewis Field in Salem, Oregon, on Saturday, April 8. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will play one game on Sunday, April 9 starting at 12 p.m.
