By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) was 2 of 4 with a home run in the first game and Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) went 3 for 3 with a double and homer in the second game, as Willamette University split a Northwest Conference doubleheader with Pacific University on Sunday, May 2 at John Lewis Field.
The Boxers won the opener, 10-3, behind four hits from Isaac Lovings and a home run by Ryan Krout. WU prevailed in the second game, 8-2, with three Bearcat pitchers combining on a six-hitter, with Matt Pisacane (Jr., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS) earning the win and Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP/OF, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) adding a save.
"The team responded well inGame 2 after not playing our best in Game 1," Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "We had some clutch two-out RBIs and Brady Joyner did a great job shutting the door."
Willamette and Pacific also split the four-game series. The Bearcats completed the weekend at 27-13 overall, 21-11 in the NWC. Pacific moved to 25-11 on the season, 20-8 in the NWC. The Boxers currently lead the NWC standings, followed by Willamette in second place. Both teams have clinched NWC Tournament berths.
"It was a hard-fought series," Swick commented. "The team is excited to be playing in the NWC Tournament again. Willamette won the 2018 NWC Tournament Championship and went on to finish as the runner-up in the NCAA West Regional.
Each team scored two runs in the first inning of the doubleheader. Tyler Quinn was hit by a pitch to open the game for Pacific and Krout followed with a single. Later, Quinn scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Hara, while Krout crossed the plate on a single by Lovings. For WU, Werkmeister-Martin and Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) hit singles with one out. Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) reached base on an error at shortstop. Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) provided a 2-RBI single to score Werkmeister-Martin and Daly.
The Boxers took a 5-2 lead with three runs on three hits and two errors in the fourth inning. Pacific added three runs in the top of the seventh to grab a six-run advantage. Two of the runs in the seventh were scored on a single by Quinn, while the third run crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Krout. The Bearcats tallied a run in the bottom of the seventh when Wagner blasted a solo homer down the left field line. Pacific plated two runs in the ninth, as Krout hit an RBI triple and also scored.
Lovings finished the game 4 for 5 with a run and an RBI. Krout was 3 of 4 with two runs and two RBIs. Wagner's two hits led the Bearcats, while Nelsen topped the offensive chart with two RBIs. Pacific starter Derek Eubanks improved to 5-0 with the win. He pitched seven innings and recorded three strikeouts. WU starter Eric Waldichuk (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) fell to 3-4 with the loss.
Werkmeister-Martin's three hits led a 10-hit attack for the Bearcats in the second game, while Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) walked three times and scored twice. Little walked to start the bottom of the first. He stole second two batters later, and scored on a single by Fischel.
After Pacific tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second, WU answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Werkmeister-Martin connected for a leadoff double down the left field line. Two outs later, he scored from third on a wild pitch. The Boxers tied the game again in the top of the third on a leadoff homer by Krout. During the next half-inning, Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) walked with two outs, went to second on a single by Werkmeister-Martin, and reached home on a single by Nelsen for a 3-2 lead.
Pruitt Spritzer (So., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) went to the mound for WU with one out in the third and pitched to two batters. Joyner entered the game with two outs in the third and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings for his fifth save. Joyner did not allow a hit, struck out two batters, and gave up three walks. Pisacane improved to 4-0.
Willamette extended its 3-2 lead to 5-2 by scoring once in the fourth and once in the fifth. In the fourth, Wagner provided a sacrifice fly to score Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS), who hit a double earlier in the inning. Werkmeister-Martin smacked a solo homer in the fifth inning.
The Bearcats plated three runs in the sixth to pull away. Wagner contributed an RBI single, while Fischel drove in one run with a fielder's choice. An error at the end of the fielder's choice allowed Little to score the third run.
In addition to Werkmeister-Martin, other Bearcats with multiple hits in the second game were Faudskar, who went 2 of 2 with two runs, and Daly, who finished 2 of 4. Little's three walks gave him five walks during the doubleheader. Max Nealon of Pacific went 2 of 3 with a double for the Boxers.
Willamette does not play next weekend, while several NWC teams will compete in their final regular-season series. The Bearcats will return to action at the NWC Tournament. Specific dates will be announced once the tournament field has been completed.
