By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) pounded three hits for Willamette University in the first game and Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) supplied the Bearcats with two hits in the second game, but Pacific Lutheran University won both games of the doubleheader, 7-2 and 1-0, on Saturday, March 9 at PLU Field. The Loggers, upped their record to 3-8 on the season, 2-2 in the NWC, while Willamette slipped to 8-2, 3-2 in the NWC.
While Lawson and Hoffman each recorded multiple hits in one game of the doubleheader, the Bearcats struggled on offense with just seven hits in the opener and three hits in the second game. Layton Wagner (Grad., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), who started the first game for WU, struck out 10 batters in six innings, but the Bearcats committed four errors while he was on the mound. Wagner allowed five runs, but only two earned runs. Willamette finished with five errors, while PLU committed one error.
In the second game, the Lutes' starting pitcher Chris Moreno earned 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, while reliever Anthony Adams contributed two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Pacific Lutheran scored the game's only run in the second inning.
Bearcats Tie First Game at 2-2, but Loggers Pull Away for 7-2 Win
Willamette scored twice in the third inning to tie the score in the opener after PLU pushed across two runs in the first inning. The Lutes tallied one run in the third inning for a 3-2 lead, then pulled away with one run in the fifth, one run in the seventh, and two runs in the eighth.
In the bottom of the first, Rochne Beecham and Rutger Youch hit bunt singles to open the game. Youch's single led to a throwing error, leaving runners at second and third. Aaron Barber reached base on an error, as Beecham scored and Youch went to third. A sacrifice fly by Ashton Barber allowed Youch to score
The Bearcats countered with two runs in the third. Hoffman was hit by a pitch, and went to second when Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) reached base on an error by the shortstop. A single by Lawson loaded the bases. One out later, Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) doubled to left field to drive in Hoffman and Granucci.
Pacific Lutheran took the lead with two outs in the bottom of the third. Barton doubled down the left field line and Hayden Kaiser hit an infield single. Brody Phinney belted an RBI double into right center to score Barton. Wagner registered his third strikeout of the inning to end the threat.
A fielding error in the outfield on a single by Barton in the fifth inning led to Barber scoring an unearned run to give PLU a 4-2 lead. In the seventh, Youch opened the stanza by reaching first base on an error. Barber hit a double to left to drive in Youch with an unearned run. PLU completed the scoring in the bottom of the eight. Carson Burke singled through the left side. Braden Adcox followed with a two-run homer to right field.
Lawson was 3 of 4 at the plate for the Bearcats. Walker hit a double, while Hoffman, Wagner, and Carter Stoltz (Fy., C, Davis, CA/Davis HS) each connected for a single. For the Lutes, Barber was 2 of 5 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs. Barton went 2 of 4 with a double, one run, and one RBI. Lawson fell to 1-0 with the pitching loss. Jonathan Cohen, who replaced starter Kamryn Swartz during the third inning, improved to 1-2 with the win.
Lutes Score a Run in the Second Inning to Grab Game Two 1-0
The second game was a pitchers' duel, as Pacific Lutheran edged out the Bearcats 1-0. WU starting pitcher Steven Verespey (So., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) allowed six hits and had two strikeouts with no walks. Relief pitcher Samuel Daly (Grad., RHP, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) gave up one hit in two innings, while accumulating three strikeouts and one walk. PLU pitchers Chris Moreno and Anthony Adams limited the Bearcats to three hits. Moreno struck out 11 batters and walked four, while Adams finished with two strikeouts and two walks.
Both teams sent the minimum of three batters to the plate in the first three half-innings. In the bottom of the second, Barton opened the stanza with a home run to left field for the game's only run. Beecham batted next and doubled down the right field line. Phinney provided a sacrifice bunt to move Beecham to third, but Verespey forced a groundout and a flyout to end the inning.
The Bearcats advanced a runner to third base without a hit in the third inning and loaded the bases without a hit in the fifth inning, but were unable to score. In the top of the sixth, Hoffman connected for his second single of the game to start the frame. One out later, Wagner was hit by a pitch. Walker singled to center field to load the bases. A strikeout and a flyout ended the threat.
Willamette challenged the Lutes again in the seventh inning. Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) reached base on an error at first. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) and reached third on a groundout by Granucci. The Lutes intentionally walked Hoffman. Lawson hit a ground ball to shortstop to end the inning.
Barton was 2 of 3 for PLU with his solo homer for the only runs scored. Adcox finished 2 of 4 for the Lutes. Hoffman was 2 of 4 with a walk, while Walker completed the game with one hit for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats and the Lutes will play the final game in the NWC weekend series on Sunday, March 10. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. PDT.
