By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) and Rocco Granucci (So., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) each smacked a home run for Willamette University, and the Bearcats accumulated 17 hits overall, in a 14-5 non-conference victory over Whitworth University on Saturday, April 29 at John Lewis Field. Hoffman's solo homer and Granucci's two-run homer were both part of a four-run sixth inning for Willamette. The Bearcats led 4-1 after four innings, but scored six runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth to grab a 14-3 lead. Hoffman also smacked a triple during the game.
Willamette upped its record to 21-14 on the season. The Pirates dropped to 11-26 overall.
Hoffman leads the Bearcats with nine home runs this season. His homer on Saturday was the 30th of his career and moved him into sole possession of third place on Willamette's all-time list. He trails only the career leader, Kyle Stalker, who hit 51 homers from 2006-09, and T.C. Lee, who belted 34 homers from 2008-11.
Willamette broke a scoreless tie by plating four runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Carl Lawson (Jr., RF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) reached base on a fielding error by the first baseman.
The next four batters earned hits, starting with a single by Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) that sent Lawson to second. Hoffman batted next and tripled to right center, allowing Lawson and Fischel to cross the plate. Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) drove in Hoffman with a single that hit the pitcher and went through the left side of the infield. After Suchor stole second, Granucci hit an RBI single to center.
Whitworth cut the lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the fourth. Henry Zaske was hit by a pitch to start the frame. He went to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a bunt single by Hunter Dryden, and scored on a ground out by Riley Cissne.
The Bearcats scored six runs in the fifth to increase their lead to 10-1. In addition, there were four hit batters and two walks. The first three runs were scored on a bases-loaded walk to Suchor, followed by Granucci being hit by a pitch, and Jackson Garrett (Jr., UT, Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS/Palomar College) hitting an RBI groundout.
Willamette's big fifth inning also featured three hits -- a single by Lawson to open the stanza, a two-run single by Tassos Foster (So., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) to bring in the fourth and fifth runs, and an RBI single by Ethan Dunnam (Sr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) to complete the offensive outburst.
A two-RBI double by Cissne in the top of the sixth allowed Whitworth to pull within 10-3. The Bearcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth on Hoffman's solo homer, Granucci's two-run blast, and an RBI single by Dunnam. Nate Hamburger (Fr., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS) belted a double down the left field line to send Dunnam to third with two outs, but a flyout ended the inning. Whitworth scored two runs in the ninth to pull within 14-5.
Granucci was 3 of 4 for the Bearcats with two runs and four RBIs. Foster went 3 of 5 with a run and two RBIs. Fischel, Hoffman, Garrett, and Dunnam all finished with two hits. Hoffman had three RBIs, while Suchor, Foster, and Dunnam each earned two. Whitworth registered six hits, one each by six of the Pirates. Cissne and Austin Paul both hit a a double.
Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS), who started on the mound for Willamette, earned the win after throwing six innings and allowing three hits and three runs. He had five strikeouts. Verespey moved to 4-4 on the season. Whitworth starter Boe Hesse fell to 0-3. He gave up seven runs in four innings, but only three of the runs were earned.
Willamette will play a non-conference game against the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, April 30 at John Lewis Field. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (PDT).
