By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University closed out the 2022 baseball season on Sunday, May 1 by splitting a pair of one-run games in non-conference action at Logger Baseball Field on the campus of the University of Puget Sound. The Bearcats edged Pacific University 11-10 on a walk-off single to end the first game, then fell to the host Loggers 5-4.
In the opener, Ryan Whithorn (Grad., 2B, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) drove in the winning run on a single through the right side with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, as Samuel Daly (Jr., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) scored. In the second game, Puget Sound broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the seventh and held on for the win.
The Bearcats finished the year with a 19-17 overall record for Willamette's 10th consecutive season at .500 or better. It was the team's 13th season at .500 or better in the past 15 years. Pacific ended the first game with a 28-16 overall record, while Puget Sound moved to 20-17 after the Loggers won the second game.
"It was a good day of baseball," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "Winning two of three games this weekend and sending the seniors off right was great. All of them contributed this weekend. Watching the team celebrate after Ryan Whithorn's walk-off hit was one of the best moments of the year."
Bearcats Edge Boxers on Walk-off Single by Whithorn
Willamette defeated Pacific 11-10 in the first game by plating two runs in the eighth inning to tie the game and then scoring the winning run on a Whithorn's walk-off single in the ninth. The Bearcats outhit the Boxers 17-10 and Willamette's pitchers stuck out 15 batters, while Pacific's throwers registered just three strikeouts.
Facing a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first, the Bearcats put together six hits to score four runs. Willamette's half of the inning began with a single by Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and an RBI double by Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS). One out later, Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) drove in Werkmeister-Martin with a single to right field. Samuel Daly (Jr., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) added a single to center, sending Hoffman to second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) drove in Hoffman with an RBI groundout. Daly scored on a single by Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS).
Pacific pulled within 4-3 in the top of the fourth on back-to-back solo homers by Ryan Krout and Isaac Lovings. The Boxers tied the score in the fifth when Brad Altomare scored on a sacrifice fly by Krout.
Willamette regained the lead at 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Hoffman doubled to center and Daly walked. A wild pitch sent the runners to second and third before Jonny Suchor (Jr., INF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) walked. Dunnam singled to right, sending Hoffman and Daly across the plate. A two-run homer by Matt Gibbs and a two-run triple from Nolan McNeill provided the Boxers with four runs in the seventh as they grabbed an 8-6 advantage.
WU's rally began with two runs on two hits in the eighth. Wagner pounded a double near the left field line with one out and Werkmeister-Martin walked. Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) brought home Wagner with a double. Later, Werkmeister-Martin scored on a wild pitch, but Fischel was thrown out at third on the play.
Relief pitcher Ben Kowalski (Jr., RHP, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), who entered the game with two outs in the seventh, faced just three Pacific batters in the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, Daly singled, Suchor doubled, and Dunnam walked to load the bases. Whithorn provided the game-winning single, allowing Daly to reach home plate with no outs.
Kowalski improved to 4-0 and ended the year with a 2.55 ERA. On Sunday, he allowed no runs and struck out two batters. Starter Justin Miller struck out 10 batters in five innings. On offense, Wagner was 4 for 5 with a double and three runs. Dunnam finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs and 15 putouts. Werkmeister-Martin, Hoffman, Daly, and Whithorn each had two hits. Daly scored three runs and Werkmeister-Martin earned two RBIs. Lovings was 2 of 5 for Pacific with two homers. McNeill went 2 of 3 with a triple and three RBIs.
Loggers Slip Past Willamette in Second Game
Puget Sound trailed 4-3 in the middle of the sixth inning but scored one run in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to defeat the Bearcats, 5-4. The Loggers held a slim 8-6 margin in base hits during the game.
The Loggers pushed across a pair of runs in the first inning. Kyle Strash singled and Shane Himeda doubled one out later. Both runners scored on a single by Makana Murashige.
Willamette tied the game with a run in the second and another run in the fifth. Daly singled to open the second stanza and later scored on a single by Tyler Vandemark (Grad., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS). In the fifth, Whithorn walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vandemark, and scored on a single by Wagner.
After the Loggers took a 3-2 lead, the Bearcats responded with two runs in the sixth. Fischel started the frame with a team-leading eighth home run. Hoffman singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Topping. For Puget Sound in the sixth, Jackson Bolitho walked with two outs and scored on a double by Strash. Himeda doubled to open the seventh for the Loggers and tallied the go-ahead run when a single by Murashiga was misplayed in right field.
With the Bearcats seeking a tying run, Topping was hit by a pitch with two outs in the eighth. Tassos Foster (So., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS) pinch-ran and stole second. A strikeout ended the inning. In the ninth, Whithorn batted first and received a walk. After a line-out to right and a flyout, Whithorn moved to second on a wild pitch. Werkmeister-Martin hit into an error as Whithorn reached third, and then Werkmeister-Martin stole second. Fischel hit a line drive to right field, but the ball was caught as the fielder reached high over his head.
Wagner was 2 of 5 with an RBI for Willamette. Fischel, Topping, and Vandemark, also earned an RBI. Strash was 3 of 4 with two runs and an RBI for Puget Sound, while Himeda was 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Murashige went 2 of 4 with three RBIs.
