By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Layton Wagner (Grad., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) improved to 8-1 this season with eight-innings on the mound, and Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) belted two home runs in the first three innings, as Willamette University defeated George Fox University, 12-4, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 20. Wagner struck out nine batters and allowed just six hits at John Lewis Field. GFU won the second game, 10-3, as Bruins' starter Caleb Debban tossed seven innings and struck out nine batters.
Willamette ended the twinbill with a 22-9 record, including 13-7 in the NWC. George Fox finished the day at 19-16, 8-11 in the NWC. The Bearcats and Bruins will play the final game in the series on Sunday, April 21 at John Lewis Field, starting at 12 p.m. PDT.
Bearcats Pound 15 Hits in 12-4 Victory during First Game
While Wagner and relief pitcher Dylan Turner (So., RHP, Dallas, TX/Wilson HS) were holding George Fox to four runs and six hits in the opener, the Willamette offense was amassing 15 hits, including six doubles and three home runs. Hoffman's two homers increased his season total to 11 round-trip hits. He now has 42 homers in his career. Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B/LF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/UC Davis) smacked a homer in the first game, while Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) blasted three doubles.
The first home by Hoffman was earned with one out in the first inning. The solo shot went out of the park in left center. In the third inning, Hoffman followed a two-out single by Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) with a two-run homer to right field, giving the Bearcats a 3-0 lead.
Willamette increased the lead to 8-0 by adding five runs in the bottom of the fourth. The inning began with a double to center by Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona). Walker batted next and drove in Lawson with a double to left. The ball was misplayed, allowing Walker to reach third. Piazza then belted a two-run homer to left field. WU scored the final two runs on a double to left center by Foster. During the inning, Willamette connected for seven hits.
George Fox plated four runs in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-4. Three runs were scored on a homer by Evan Balingit. The fourth run scored on a double down the left field line by Jared Miller. Willamette responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Walker doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Baskin. Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University) walked, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error, before crossing the plate on an infield single by Foster.
The Bearcats tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth inning on a double by Walker. Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) and Nate Hamburger (Fy., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS) scored on the play. Foster, Hoffman, and Walker each finished the game 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Also for Willamette, Wagner has now struck out 60 batters in 60 innings pitched this season. He owns a 2.25 earned run average.
GFU Pulls Away in Final 5 Innings; Granucci Belts a Double
The second game was tied 3-3 after four innings, but the Bruins scored the final seven runs of the game. GFU was credited with 13 hits during the game.
George Fox scored one run in the third inning and two runs in the fourth to grab a 3-0 lead. Noah Meffert hit a solo home run to open the third inning. Mason Eastman singled to start the fourth inning and scored one out later on a two-run homer to center field by Balingit. WU responded with three runs in the bottom of the stanza to tie the score. Walker singled and later scored on a single by Baskin. A wild pitch and a passed ball placed Baskin at third with two outs. He scored on a single by Carter Stoltz (Fy., C, Davis, CA/Davis HS). Stoltz eventually scored two batters later when Hoffman reached base on an infield error.
For GFU in the top of the fourth inning, a throwing error on a bunt, and an infield single by Miller, were followed by a three-run homer from Meffert. Later, Balingit added an RBI single, as the Bruins' claimed a 7-3 lead. George Fox tacked on one run in the sixth and two runs in the eighth to reach the final score.
Balingit was 3 of 4 with a homer, one run, and three RBIs. Meffert was 2 of 4 with two homers, two runs scored, and six RBIs. Eastman was 2 of 5. For Willamette, six players each earned one hit. Granucci's hit was a double.
