By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Right fielder Samuel Daly (So., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) of Willamette University continued his strong play at the plate with three hits in six at bats during a doubleheader against George Fox University on Saturday, March 13 at the Morse Athletic Fields. Strong pitching by GFU helped the Bruins win both games, 12-2, on the run rule in seven innings, and 6-0. George Fox moved to 7-3 overall, 2-0 in the Northwest Conference, while Willamette slipped to 6-4, 0-2 in the NWC.
Daly improved to 14-of-34 at the plate this season for a .412 batting average, 11 RBIs, and 10 runs scored. He was 2 of 4 in Saturday's first game against the Bruins and then went 1 for 3 in the second game.
George Fox's starting pitchers, Christopher Stone and Sean Wiese, combined to allow just two runs and nine hits during 14 innings on the mound. Stone, 2-0, won the opener after allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out six batters and gave up four walks. Wiese, 2-1, earned the win in the second game after recording 12 strikeouts. He allowed just four hits -- all singles -- and one walk.
Neither team scored in the first inning of the day, but the Bruins tallied five runs in the bottom of the second. GFU registered three singles during the inning but also benefited from an error, two hit batters, a walk, a wild pitch, a balk, and a sacrifice fly. The Bruins added two runs in the third on an RBI single by Jared Gee plus Travis Miller's second sacrifice fly of the game. George Fox expanded its lead to 9-0 in the fourth when Marc Audet hit a 2-run homer.
Willamette pulled within 9-2 by scoring once in the fifth inning and once in the sixth. In the fifth, Sean Little (Sr., 2B, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) walked with one out, reached second when Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) also walked, and then scored on a single by Daly with two outs. Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) smacked a solo home run over the fence in left center to open the sixth inning.
The Bruins tacked on three runs in the seventh to end the game on the run rule. Travis Miller belted a solo home run to begin the stanza. Trevor Nannini, who was hit by a pitch, scored later in the inning as Willamette turned a 5-4-3 double play. Audet singled with two outs and scored after Emery Miller and Ma Sabolski also singled.
Audet finished the game 3 for 5 at the plate with four runs scored, a home run, and two RBIs. Emery Miller was 3 of 5 with two runs and an RBI. Travis Miller was 1 for 3 with his solo homer and three RBIs.
Daly's 2-of-4 performance led the Bearcats. Werkmeister-Martin was 1 of 2 with a solo home run. WU starting pitcher Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) fell to 2-2 on the season after allowing seven runs -- two earned -- in just over two innings on the mound.
George Fox moved in front 2-0 in the third inning of the second game. Breyndon Nakamura walked to open the inning. One out later, Leon Johnson III walked. Nakamura scored when Travis Miller doubled to center field, and Johnson III scored on a sacrifice fly by Nannini. The Bruins added one run in the fourth, as Mason Arnold hit a leadoff double, went to third on a groundout by Cutter Kitson, and scored on a wild pitch.
The Bruins plated their final three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Franklin Leonard began the stanza with a bunt single and continued to second base on a throwing error. Leonard eventually scored three batters later on a sacrifice bunt by Nannini. Emery Miller completed the scoring with a 2-run homer to left center.
GFU held a slim 5-4 advantage in total hits during the second game. Willamette's hits were by Daly, Wagner, Werkmeister-Martin, and Ryan Whithorn (Sr., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College).
Willamette starter Ben Whitten (Grad., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) fell to 1-2 with the loss. He allowed three runs and two hits in four innings. He achieved four strikeouts and walked three batters.
The teams will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 14. First pitch has been moved to 11 a.m. (PDT).
