By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) went 3 for 5 at the plate for Willamette University, but Whitman College defeated the Bearcats 6-2 in the second round of the 2023 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament on Saturday, April 22 at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. Willamette fell to 20-13 on the season and was eliminated from the tournament. Whitman upped its record to 23-15.
Hoffman's three hits led the Bearcats, while Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) and Joshua Murphy (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Cascade HS/Olympic College) each contributed two hits. The Bearcats had 11 hits overall, while Whitman registered 13 hits.
Despite a combined 24 hits, neither team produced an extra-base hit, as the pitchers reduced opportunities for big plays. The teams left 25 runners on base (Whitman 14, Willamette 11), as the need to move station-to-station was difficult due to the pitching and defense of the Bearcats and the Blues.
Whitman took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when two runners scored as Garrett Runyan hit into an error with two outs. It was the only time either team scored more than one run in the same inning.
The Blues added a run in the second inning on a passed ball with two outs and the bases loaded. Willmette pulled within 3-1 by scoring once in the fifth inning, as Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) singled with two outs, went to second on a hit by Hoffman, and scored on a single to left field by Fischel.
The Blues increased their lead to 5-1 with a run in the seventh and a run in the eighth. The Bearcats pulled within 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth, when Drew Baskin (So., 2B, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) singled with one out, stole second with two outs, and crossed the plate on an RBI single by Murphy. Whitman tallied the game's final run in the top of the ninth on three walks and a hit by pitch, but left three runners on base.
Beck Maguire topped the Whitman offense by going 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. Ben Parker, Teague Conder, and AJ Romero each earned two hits for the Blues.
Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS), who started on the mound for the Bearcats, pitched four innings and allowed eight hits. While he was on the mound, Whitman scored three runs, but all three runs were unearned. Verespey registered two strikeouts and gave up no walks. Logan Haslam (Jr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) pitched the next three innings and allowed just one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out three batters. Whitman starter Julien Hernandez was the winning pitcher, as he went seven innings and allowed one run on nine hits.
Willamette has six games left on its schedule. After playing at Pacific University on Friday, April 28, the Bearcats will end the year with five consecutive home games. Willamette will take on Whitworth University at John Lewis Field on Saturday, April 29, before taking on the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, April 30.
The Bearcats will close out the season with three games against Occidental College from California. Willamette will take on the Tigers in a doubleheader in Salem, Oregon, on Saturday, May 6, and the teams will close out the season with one game on Sunday, May 7.
