By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) smacked a pair of two-run homers -- one in each game -- and Willamette University received quality pitching and timely defensive plays as the Bearcats defeated George Fox University in both games of a Northwest Conference doubleheader, 3-1 and 7-1, on Saturday, Feb. 19 at John Lewis Field. Wagner was 3 of 6 at the plate during the doubleheader and also pitched the initial 5 2/3 innings of the first game. Winning pitchers for the Bearcats were Brady Joyner (So., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) and Eric Waldichuk (Sr., RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS).
Willamette advanced its record to 4-2 on the season, 2-0 in the NWC. George Fox fell to 4-5 overall, 0-2 in the NWC. The games were part of an NWC opening weekend that will conclude with a nine-inning game between the Bearcats and the Bruins on Sunday, starting at 12 p.m. (PST).
"It's always hard to win both games of a doubleheader," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick noted. "We made big pitches when we needed to. Brady Joyner was excellent out of the bullpen. Offensively, we are still trying to find our stride."
Willamette Pitchers Strike Out 12 Batters in 3-2 Win
In the first inning of the doubleheader, George Fox scored one run. Jeremy Sangalang singled with two outs, stole second, went to third on a throwing error during the steal, and scored on a double near the right field line by Tyler Durant.
The first of several key defensive plays by Willamette in the opening game occurred during the top of the second. With one out and Jayce Lien at first base, Jared Gee pounded a double to let center. Lien attempted to score on the play, but he was thrown out at the plate on a relay throw from left fielder Rocco Granucci (Fy., San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) to Drew Baskin (Fy., Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) at second base to catcher Ethan Dunnam (Jr., El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS).
With one out in the bottom of the second inning, Wagner blasted a two-run homer a few yards inside the left field foul pole, giving WU a 2-1 lead. Samuel Daly (Jr., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS), who singled to left field to start the inning, also scored on the play.
Wagner escaped a jam in the third inning, as he forced Spence Roos to fly out to third for the final out with the bases loaded. In the top of the fifth, Jared Miller singled to start the frame for GFU, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. In the sixth, Roos walked, but Wagner later picked him off at first base. A walk to Lien with two outs brought in Matt Pisacane (Sr., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS) to pitch for WU. Gee also walked, but Pisacane struck out Breyndon Nakamura to end the threat.
The Bruins loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning. Joyner went to the mound and promptly struck out Durant and Sangalang before a wild pitch allowed Miller to score, tying the game at 2-2. Joyner ended the inning by fanning Jared Whitaker. During GFU's at bat in the eighth inning, Joyner faced just three batters.
In the bottom of the eight, Tyler Vandemark (Grad., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) singled to center field and went to second and third on two wild pitches. With one out, Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) singled toward shortstop, but Vandermark had to stay at third. Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) batted next and drove in Vandermark on a ground out to shortstop for a 3-2 lead. Joyner struck out Miller and Brandon King to start the top of the ninth, before causing Sangalang to ground out.
Wagner, Pisacane, and Joyner combined for 12 strikeouts in the first game. Joyner, now 1-0, registered six strikeouts and Wagner earned five. Dunnam went 2 for 2 with a double at the plate, while Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) was 2 of 4 with a double. Wagner finished 1 of 2 with his two-run homer. Sangalang and Miller each recorded two hits for the Bruins.
Wagner and Topping Blast Homers in Second Game
The Bearcats took a 4-0 lead in the second game with two runs in the second inning and two more in the third. In the second, Daly belted a double with one out and scored on a single by Wagner. Later, Wagner scored on a bases-loaded single by Tassos Foster (So., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS). During the third inning, Fischel singled to left field and later stole second. Wagner powered a pitch over the left field fence for his second two-run homer of the afternoon.
Waldichuk got into trouble on the mound in the fifth inning with bases loaded and two outs. He gave up an RBI single to King, but finished the inning when Sangalang flied out to right field. Will Braaton (Jr., RHP, Highlands Ranch, CO (Thunderridge HS) began pitching for the Bearcats in the top of the sixth.
WU tacked on one run in the bottom of the sixth when Jonny Suchor (Jr., INF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) scored from third on an error. The Bearcats also added a run in the seventh as Werkmeister-Martin scored on a double-steal for a 6-1 lead.
George Fox used a single, a balk, and two walks to load the bases with no outs in the eighth. JD Willis (So., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS) was brought in as a reliever and struck out the next three batters to end the threat. Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) smacked a solo home for Willamette in the bottom of the eight for a 7-1 advantage.
Waldichuk went to 1-0 with the win, while Willis picked up his first save of the season. Waldichuk struck out four batters and Joyner registered four strikeouts. Wagner was 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs, and three RBIs. Topping went 2 for 3. For GFU, Miller was 2 of 3, and Sangalang was 2 of 4.
