By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Willamette University baseball team split a Northwest Conference doubleheader at Whitworth University on Saturday, March 23. The Bearcats won the opener, 6-2, before dropping the nightcap by the same score.

Granucci Drives in Two Runs in Game One Win

The Bearcats struck early in game one, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning. Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B/LF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS) launched a three-run home run to put Willamette in front. Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) added another run in the third, going deep with a two-out homer to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Granucci drove in another run in the top of the fifth, scoring Carter Stoltz (Fy., C, Davis, CA/Davis HS) with a sacrifice fly to right field. The Pirates used a bases loaded walk to answer with a lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The teams traded runs in the eighth for the final of 6-2. Drew Baskin (Jr., INF, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) reached on a double and came in to score on a single from Clint Walker (Gr., OF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS).

Walker and Stoltz both went 2-for-4 in game one. Layton Wagner (Gr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) earned the win, recording seven strikeouts while holding Whitworth to just five hits and one run in a seven-inning effort. Samuel Daly (Gr., RHP. El Dorado, CA/Jesuit HS) added five strikeouts, allowing just two hits in two innings of relief.

Whitworth Flips Score to Take Game Two in Saturday Split

Whitworth turned the tables in game two, scoring twice in the first inning and two in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. The Pirates used four singles to put two on the board in the first. Elijah Tanner drove in two runs with a double in the fifth and went 3-for-4 in the nightcap.

Walker singled and Piazza doubled to set up an RBI opportunity for Adam Birt (So., INF, Freemont, CA/Washington HS). Stoltz followed up with an RBI to cut the deficit for 4-2.

Aaron Clogston came through with a pinch-hit single, driving in two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the hosts some insurance. They held in the top of the ninth to secure the split.

Jeff Hoffman (Gr., INF, ) went 3 for 4 in game two while Walker added a pair of hits as well. Steven Verespey (So., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) suffered the loss, going six innings in the start. Pruitt Spritzer (Gr., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) came on to strike out three hitters in relief.

Willamette moved to 15-3 overall and 8-3 in the conference. The Bearcats will finish the three-game series at Whitworth on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. PDT.