By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Brady Joyner (So., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) has been Willamette University's closer for most of the past two seasons. On Saturday, April 2 he became a long reliever who put in a starter's-length outing of 6 2/3 innings, helping the Bearcats defeat Linfield University 8-7 at John Lewis Field to split a Northwest Conference doubleheader. In the first game, Linfield scored five runs in the second inning and the Wildcats went on to win 7-3.
Joyner entered the second game with one out in the third inning and WU leading 6-3, but Linfield had the bases loaded. After recording a strikeout, Joyner gave up a two-RBI single to Nathan Kassler and a two-RBI double to Jacob Campos, as the Wildcats grabbed a 7-6 lead. Joyner forced Garrett Moen to line out to shortstop to end the threat.
Over the next six innings, Joyner limited Linfield to no runs and two hits. He struck out an additional seven batters for eight overall, and gave up just two walks. The Bearcats regained the lead at 8-7 in the bottom of the fourth, and although WU didn't score again, Joyner's pitching held the lead the rest of the way.
"Brady came up huge for us today. It was his most innings pitched and his most pitches (112/68 strikes) as a Bearcat. We needed every one of them to get the win."
Willamette concluded the day at 14-13 overall, 11-9 in the NWC. Linfield slipped to 13-13 on the season, 9-8 in the NWC. The Bearcats and the Wildcats will complete the weekend series with a single game on Sunday, April 3, starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).
Hoffman Smacks a Home Run in Second Game
Willamette won the second game 8-7 after all of Joyner's excellent pitching. The Bearcats surged out to a 6-1 lead with three runs in each of the first two innings.
In the first stanza, Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) of Willamette belted a three-run homer to center field. He finished the contest 2 for 5 at the plate with a run and four RBIs. He was 2 of 3 in the opener with a run scored.
During the second frame, Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) hit an RBI double with two outs. Ryan Whithorn (Grad., 2B, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) followed with an RBI single and went to second on a fielding error by the catcher. Whithorn scored on a double to right field by Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS).
Linfield scored six runs on five hits in the third inning to move in front 7-6. Joyner kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
WU scored twice in the fourth inning. Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) hit an RBI single through the right side and Hoffman provided an RBI single down the left field line, as the Bearcats gained an 8-7 advantage.
Joyner improved to 2-2 with the win. Linfield starter Andrew Del Biaggio dropped to 2-5. For Willamette, Hoffman's three-run homer and four RBIs overall led the way on offense. Whithorn was 3 of 4 with three runs and an RBI, while Topping was 3 of 4 with a run and an RBI. Werkmeister-Martin finished 2 of 4 with his double, two runs, and an RBI. For Linfield, Tanner Jacques and Wyatt Smith each went 2 for 5.
Granucci Triples for Bearcats in First Game
Linfield's five-run second inning was the difference in the first game, as the Wildcats prevailed 7-3. The second for Linfield featured a two-RBI double by Mike LaVigne, a sacrifice fly by Branden Pasion, and an RBI double by Daniel Kahn.
Willamette pulled within 5-1 on a run in the third inning, a Rocco Granucci (Fy., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) blasted a leadoff triple to right and two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Werkmeister-Martin. The Bearcats plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to reduce Linfield's lead to 5-3. Hoffman singled and later went to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Whithorn walked and Werkmeister-Martin provided an RBI single to bring Hoffman home. Whithorn scored from third on a double-steal before Werkmeister-Martin was thrown out at second.
The Wildcats tacked on a run in the sixth and a run in the eighth for the final margin. Linfield also appeared to score in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by LaVigne, but Moen left third base too soon and was called out on appeal.
Cage Hardy was 4 of 4 for Linfield with one run scored during the game, LaVigne was 2 for 6 with a double, a run, and two RBIs. Kahn went 2 of 5 with a double and an RBI. Granucci was 2 of 3 for Willamette a triple and a run scored. Also going 2 of 3 for the Bearcats were Werkmeister-Martin, who earned two RBIs, and Hoffman who scored a run. The starters pitchers took the decisions, with Jackson Koons moving to 3-3 for Linfield, and Justin Miller (Sr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) falling to 2-4 for Willamette.
