By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) pounded two doubles in the opener and added two home runs in the second game, as Willamette University split a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader with Whitman College on Saturday, March 26 at Borleske Stadium. The winning team rallied in the ninth inning both times, as Willamette prevailed in the first game 8-7 and Whitman took the second game 7-6.
In the opener, the Bearcats trailed 6-0 after two innings and 7-5 after eight innings, but scored three times in the top of the ninth on their way to an 8-7 win. In game two, Whitman led 2-0 after two innings, but the Blues trailed 6-2 after seven frames before scoring two runs in the eighth and three runs in the ninth to edge the Bearcats, 7-6. Willamette moved to 13-9 on the season, including 10-7 in the NWC. Whitman ended the day at 7-17 overall, 5-9 in the NWC.
The teams will play two more games on Sunday, March 27, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT). The first game will count in the NWC standings, while the second contest will be a non-conference game.
Bearcats Complete Huge Rally with Fischel's 2-run Single in Game 1
Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) provided the game-winning hit in the first game as his 2-run single in the top of the ninth drove home Drew Baskin (Fy., INF, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) and Werkmeister-Martin to give the Bearcats an 8-7 lead. Brady Joyner (So., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) faced four batters in the bottom of the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
The ninth inning began with WU trailing by two runs. With one out, Rocco Granucci (Fy., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) reached first and second base on an infield error at third. Ryan Whithorn (Grad., 2B, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) grounded out. Werkmeister-Martin hit an RBI double. After Werkmeister-Martin advanced to third on a wild pitch, Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) was hit by a pitch. Baskin pinch-ran and stole second base. Fischel drove in the tying and winning runs with his single.
Willamette's comeback seemed unlikely when Whitman led 6-0 after two innings. The Blues scored five runs in the first as Garrett Runyan belted a 3-run homer, Drew Vannaman hit an RBI double, and Leo Rivera provided an RBI triple. In the second, Whitman plated one run after Matt Conaway walked to start the stanza and Beck Maguire hit a two-out single.
The Bearcats cut the margin to 6-5 with two runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth. In the fourth, Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) singled with two outs and Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) followed with a 2-run homer. In the fifth, Granucci walked and Whithorn was hit by a pitch. Werkmeister-Martin sent both runners home with a double to left field. Werkmeister-Martin reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS).
Whitman tacked on a run in the seventh, but Willamette's three runs in the ninth inning made the difference. Werkmeister-Martin was 3 of 5 with two runs and three RBIs. Dunnam, Fischel, Wagner, and Hoffman each earned one hit, with Fischel and Hoffman both recording two RBIs. Granucci scored two runs. Whitman outhit the Bearcats 11-7, but had three errors compared with one error by Willamette. Rivera topped the Blues by going 3 of 4 with two triples and two RBIs. Vannaman was 2 for 5 and Maguire went 2 for 3.
Will Braaton (Jr., RHP, Highlands Ranch, CO (Thunderridge HS), 2-0, registered the win for Willamette after limiting the Blues to a total of one run and three hits from the sixth inning through the eighth inning. Whitman reliever Benjamin Seashore-Hobson fell to 0-1 after pitching the final two innings.
Werkmeister-Martin Hits Two Homers for Willamette in Game 2
Werkmeister-Martin, who finished the doubleheader 6 for 10 at the plate with four runs and six RBIs, went 3 for 5 with two home runs in the second game. He smacked a solo homer in the fourth inning and pounded out a 2-run homer to help WU score three runs in the seventh for a 6-2 lead. Whitman successfully rallied in the next two innings for a 7-6 victory.
The Blues opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning. Teague Conder hit a triple to start the frame. Vannaman walked with one out and stole second base. Rivera sent Conder and Vannaman home with a 2-run single. With two outs Rivera stole second and Michael Doyle walked. Conaway flied out to center field to end the threat.
Willamette reduced the deficit to 2-1 on Werkmeister-Martin's home run in the fourth. The Bearcats took the lead by sending two runners across the plate in the sixth. Fischel began the inning with a single and Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) added an RBI triple to tie the game. With one out, Hoffman brought in Topping with a single.
Werkmeister-Martin increased the lead with his 2-run homer in the seventh. Whithorn, who singled to start the inning, scored on the play. Dunnam received a walk and Baskin pinch-ran. Baskin stole second and went to third on a fly ball by Fischel. Baskin scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Topping.
In the eighth, Whitman scored two runs without a hit to pull within 6-4. Conder and Maguire walked. Vannamam provided a sacrifice bunt and Rivera walked. Conder scored on a wild pitch and Maguire went home on a ground out by AJ Romero. For Whitman in the ninth, Conaway hit a single and went to second on a wild pitch. Ben Parker walked, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. After Matthew Cho struck out, Conder sent a 2-run triple into right field. Magure grounded out, but Rivera hit a single to drive in Conder.
Fischel was 2 of 5 for Willamette, while Topping belted a triple and Wagner hit a double. Conaway went 3 for 5 for the Blues, and Conder was 2 for 5 with two triples, three runs, and two RBIs. Rivera finished 2 of 4 with three RBIs. Rylan Burigsay, 1-0, pitched two scoreless innings to end the game for the Blues. Joyner dropped to 1-2 with the loss for Willamette.
