By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University rolled past the University of Puget Sound, 12-0, in the second game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 27, to gain a split of the twinbill after Puget Sound won the first game, 5-3. The teams also split the four-game series. Willamette ended the weekend at 12-8 overall and 6-6 in the NWC. Puget Sound moved to 8-8 on the season, 4-6 in the NWC.
In Willamette's win, Eric Waldichuk (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) pitched the first six innings in the 7-inning game to earn the win. Waldichuk struck out five batters during his part of the combined shutout. He gave up five hits and allowed one walk. JD Willis (Fy., Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) tossed a scoreless seventh inning and struck out two batters to preserve the shutout, but gave up two singles, as the Loggers stranded three runners.
The Bearcats took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) walked to start the game and then Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) hit a single. Little advanced to third, while Werkmeister-Martin went to second on the throw. Little scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS). Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) drove in Werkmeister-Martin with a single toward third and went to second on the throw home. Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) brought Fischel across the plate with a single to center field.
WU tacked on a run in each of the next two innings on a pair of home runs. Jeff Hoffman (Fy., INF, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) opened the second inning by sending the ball over the left field fence. Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) homered to left to start the third inning. The Bearcats maintained their 5-0 advantage until the top of the seventh.
In the seventh, Willamette tallied seven runs on five hits and one error. Key hits during the offensive surge were provided by Ryan Whithorn (Sr., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) and Ben Setlak (Sr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS). Whithorn blasted a 2-run double for an 8-0 lead and Setlak hit a bases-loaded double to drive in three runs for an 11-0 margin. Setlak reached third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on an error.
Setlak was 2 of 4 during the second game. Nine other Bearcats added on hit apiece, as Willamette outhit the Loggers, 11-7. In addition to the solo homers by Hoffman and Daly, and the doubles by Whithorn and Setlak, WU received a double from Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS). Kyle Strash went 3 of 3 with a double for Puget Sound.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning of the 9-inning game to start the day. The Bearcats broke the tie and moved in front 2-1 in the top of the second inning. Faudskar singled to right field with one out. He stole second base, went to third on a single by Little, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Werkmeister-Martin.
Puget Sound claimed a 4-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. The inning included five hits by the Loggers. Jesse Awa and Jake Briscoe singled to start the frame. A sacrifice bunt by William Gross advanced the runners. Jackson Bolitho hit a single to score Awa. Briscoe crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Strash. Later, Dylan Joyce drove in Bolitho with a single to center. The Loggers tacked on a run in the third stanza for a 5-2 edge.
Neither team scored again until the top of the ninth, although Willamette put together a serious threat in the top of the eighth. Werkmeister-Martin singled toward the mound to start the inning. One out later, Nelsen singled through the left side, moving Werkmeister-Martin to third. Fischel was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Joyce moved from first base to pitcher, and struck out two batters in a row to end the inning.
Willamette reduced the final margin to 5-3 with a run in the ninth. Hoffman was hit by a pitch and went to second on a groundout by Faudskar. With two outs, Hoffman scored on a single to center field by Werkmeister-Martin. A groundout by Daly ended the game.
Davis Miller, who started the opener on the mound for the Loggers, improved to 2-3 with the win. He allowed eight hits and two runs in 7 1/3 innings, while recording three strikeouts and one walk. Joyce registered his second save. Justin Miller (Sr./Jr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) threw all eight innings for Willamette and fell to 11. Miller struck out five batters and allowed one walk.
The Loggers gained a 14-9 advantage in hits during the first game. Awa was 3 of 4 with a solo homer in the third inning. Joyce, Briscoe, Gross, and Jonas Kim each earned two hits. Werkmeister-Martin was 2 of 4 for the Bearcats with a run and two RBIs. Nelsen was 2 of 4 with an RBI. Faudskar finished 2 of 4 and scored one run.
Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College in a pair of NWC doubleheaders on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT) each day.
