By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Willamette University pounded out eight home runs in a doubleheader sweep of Whitworth University in Northwest Conference baseball action on Saturday, April 10 at Merkel Field. Willamette routed the Pirates, 25-11, in the 9-inning first game, and the Bearcats won a lower-scoring second game in an extra-inning, 6-5, after the teams were tied at 4-4 through seven innings. Three of Willamette's home runs were hit by Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS).
Hoffman belted two home runs in the first game. The series opener also included homers by Sean Little (Sr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS), Eric Waldichuk (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS), and Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS). The second game featured Hoffman's third homer of the day, plus home runs by Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) and Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS).
"It was a great day for us," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "Hitters were seeing the ball well. Jeff Hoffman had a big day at the plate. Layton Wagner and Justin Miller both gave us good outings on the mound. "Brady Joyner (winner in relief in the second game) continues to pitch big in big spots."
The Bearcats zoomed out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the doubleheader, as Fischel hit a 2-run double and Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) added an RBI double. Willamette added one run in the second inning, three runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth, and four in the sixth to grab a 13-0 advantage after 5 1/2 innings.
Whitworth scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bearcats countered with six runs in the top of the seventh for a 19-3 lead. WU starting pitcher Layton Wagner (So., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) tossed the first six innings and struck out nine batters with two walks. He allowed seven hits and three runs, while improving to 5-1 on the season.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Pirates scored seven runs to reduce Willamette's margin to 19-10 and prevent the 10-run rule from going into effect. The Pirates added another run in the eighth inning, but the Bearcats expanded the lead by scoring six times in the top of the ninth.
Hoffman accounted for seven of Willamette's runs in a two-inning span. He blasted a 3-run homer as the Bearcats scored four times in the sixth inning, and smacked a grand slam in the seventh. He was 3 for 6 during the game with four runs scored.
The Bearcats collected 23 hits in the first game. In addition to three hits by Hoffman, the Bearcats benefited from three hits by Vandemark, and two hits apiece by Little, Waldichuk, Fischel, Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS), Ryan Whithorn (Sr., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College), Ben Setlak (Sr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS), and Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS).
Whitworth was led by Brenden Duncan, who went 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs, and by Luke Bruno, who was 4 for 5 with two runs and one RBI. Ryan Gross hit a 2-run homer for the Pirates in the sixth inning and Gage Gibson belted a grand slam in the seventh inning.
In the second game, WU earned a run in the second inning and one run in the third for a 2-0 lead. Fischel connected for a solo home run to left field to open the second stanza, while Werkmeister-Martin smacked a solo home run to left field with one out in the third frame.
The Pirates moved in front 4-2 with four runs in the bottom of the third. Three runs scored on a homer by Aidan Morrison. The fourth run crossed the plate on a single by Jaxsen Sweum. Willamette cut the lead to 4-3 when Hoffman walked with two outs in the fourth inning and scored on a double down the left field line by Faudskar. In the top of the sixth, Hoffman homered with one out to tie the score. Neither team scored in the seventh inning.
Under the international tie-breaker rule, a runner is placed at second base to begin each extra inning. In the top of the eighth, Daly started the stanza at second. Fischel singled through the right side to advance Daly to third. Fischel stole second base. A passed ball allowed Daley to score and sent Fischel to third. Vandemark flied out, but a great throw into the infield by Bruno in center field forced Fischel to stay at third base. Hoffman batted next and hit an RBI single up the middle.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Pirates began with Morrison on second. Dawson Warner walked, and Bruno hit a sacrifice bunt toward the mound. A groundout by Sweum allowed Morrison to score, while Warner reached third. WU pitcher Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP/OF, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) struck out Duncan to end the game.
Joyner, who pitched the final two innings for the Bearcats improved to 4-0 with the win. He allowed no hits, while recording three strikeouts and one walk. The run scored by Morrison in the eighth automatically counts as an unearned run. Justin Miller (Sr./Jr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) started the game for WU and went six innings. He allowed six hits and four runs, while recording three strikeouts and no walks.
Hoffman was 3 for 3 during the second game with a homer, two runs, and two RBIs. Fischel went 2 of 4 with a homer, two runs, and one RBI. The Bearcats held a slim 7-6 edge in total hits. Six Whitworth players each registered one hit.
The teams will complete the four-game series on Sunday, April 11 with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (PDT).
