By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University allowed four unearned runs on three errors in the fourth inning, as George Fox University built a 7-0 lead on its way to an 11-5 win over the Bearcats on Sunday, Feb. 20 at John Lewis Field. Willamette ended the day at 4-3 overall, 2-1 in the Northwest Conference, while George Fox improved to 5-5 on the season, 1-2 in the NWC. Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS), Rocco Granucci (Fy., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS), and Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) each registered two hits for the Bearcats, who outhit the Bruins, 10-8.
GFU grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With one out, Spencer Roos singled p the middle. Jayce Lien drove in Roos with a double to left field. Lien moved to third on a flyout to right field, and then scored on a double by Mason Eastman. Two batters later, Eastman avoided a tag on his way to third on a fielder's choice by Jared Gee. Eastman scored from third when Gee was thrown out in a run-down while attempting to steal second.
The Bruins expanded their advantage with the four-run fourth inning. Tyler Durant singled to start the inning. He went to second base when a pick-off attempt got past first base. Two more infield errors allowed Roos and Lien to reach base. With the bases loaded, Travis Miller hit a 2-RBI single to left. Later, Jared Miller earned an RBI on a bases-loaded walk, and Brandon King brought in the fourth run with a ground out to second.
Willamette rebounded from the tough defensive inning to score five runs in the bottom of the fourth. The inning began with singles by Hoffman and Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS). One out later, Dunnam singled to right field to load the bases. A double by Jonny Suchor (Jr., INF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) drove home Hoffman and Fischel.
After Tassos Foster (So., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS) walked, Granucci earned an RBI single to right center as Dunnam crossed the plate. A balk allowed Suchor to score before Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) hit a sacrifice fly to right center to send Foster across the plate.
George Fox plated three runs in the seventh on just one hit, a leadoff double by Jared Miller. The inning included three wild pitches, two passed balls, and two walks. The third run crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Roos that was caught by first baseman Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) in shallow right center. The catch brought Werkmeister-Martin to the ground and Jeremy Sangalang scored from third. GFU tacked on the final run in the top of the eighth.
Andrew Sutherland, 2-0, who tossed the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings for GFU, was the winning pitcher. He allowed no runs and four hits, while recording two strikeouts and three walks. WU starter Justin Miller (Sr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) took the loss and fell to 0-2. Miller gave up five hits and seven runs in four innings, but only three runs were earned. He had two strikeouts and two walks. Five Bearcats combined to strike out seven Bruins.
Granucci was 2 for 2 at the plate for Willamette with a walk and an RBI. Dunnam finished 2 of 4 with a run scored, while Hoffman was 2 of 5 and scored once. Suchor went 1 of 4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs.
Durant led GFU on offense with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate. Jared Miller, Lien, and Eastman each hit a double for the Bruins. Travis Miller drove in two runs.
Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 26 in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at Pacific Lutheran University. First pitch in Tacoma, Washington, is set for 11 a.m. (PST).
