Miller and Waldichuk Earn Wins as Bearcats Defeat Whitworth, 6-2 and 7-3

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Starting pitchers Justin Miller (Sr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) and Eric Waldichuk (Sr., RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) each tossed seven innings to lead Willamette University to a pair of Northwest Conference wins over Whitworth University, 6-2 and 7-3, at John Lewis Field on Saturday, March 19. The Bearcats advanced to 10-8 overall, 8-6 in the NWC. Whitworth fell to 4-18 overall, 3-8 in the NWC.

Miller (2-3) allowed just one run -- it was unearned -- as the Bearcats grabbed a 6-2 win in the first game. He limited the Pirates to five hits while recording six strikeouts and one walk. Matt Pisacane (Sr., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS) gave up one run and three hits while pitching the final two innings of the game. Pisacane registered two strikeouts.

In the second game, Waldichuk (3-1) gave up three runs -- two earned -- as he held Whitworth to five hits. He accumulated six strikeouts and walked one batter. Brady Joyner (So., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) threw two scoreless and hitless innings to end the game and struck out four batters. It was Joyner's third save of the season. Whitworth starters Hunter Dryden (2-3) and Dillon McCardle (0-2) took the losses for the Pirates.

Each team hit two home runs during the doubleheader. Willamette's homers were in the first game, as Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Jr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) blasted a solo shot to open the bottom of the fourth inning, and Jeff Hoffman (So., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) smacked a leadoff homer in the fifth inning. For Whitworth in the second game, Dryden belted a solo homer in the fourth inning and Jaxsen Sweum added a leadoff homer in the sixth inning.

Werkmeister-Martin and Hoffman Hit Home Runs in Opener

Neither team scored during the first three innings of the first game, but the Pirates grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Sweum singled to left field and JJ Fahnlander singled through the right side. Brendan Duncan batted next and singled to right. The ball was misplayed, allowing Sweum to score while Fahnlander went to third bases. Miller forced Aidan Morrison to hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Willamette scored twice to claim a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Werkmeister-Martin opened the stanza with a homer to right center. Ethan Dunnam (Jr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) walked, but was thrown out when Ethan Fischel (Sr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) hit into a fielder's choice toward third base. Trey Topping (Fy., C, Valencia, CA/West Ranch HS) singled up the middle to send Fischel to third. Fischell scored on a ground out by Layton Wagner (Jr., RHP/UT, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) toward the mound.

The Bearcats extended their lead to 6-1 with four runs -- three unearned -- in the fifth inning. Hoffman homered to left center to begin the frame. Jonny Suchor (Jr., OF/INF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) walked and Ryan Whithorn (Grad., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College) followed with a sacrifice bunt. A ground out by Werkmeister-Martin moved Suchor to third. Suchor scored when Dunnam reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop. Fischel beat out a single, but the throw from shortstop was low and Fischel went to second while Dunnam advanced to third. Both runners scored when a third error at shortstop allowed Topping to reach first base.

Whitworth tallied the game's final run in the eighth inning. Gage Gibson was on base with one out after he hit into a fielder's choice. Sweum doubled to send Gibson to third. Fahnlander drove home Gibson with a sacrifice fly to right. Duncan struck out, stranding Sweum at third.

Fischell was 2 of 3 for Willamette during the game. Sweum went 2 for 3 with a double for the Pirates. The Bearcats turned two doubles plays.

Bearcats Score Three Runs in Eighth Inning of Game 2

Willamette never trailed in the second game, but the Bearcats held a slim 4-3 lead after five and a half innings. The score remained the same until the Bearcats tacked on three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

The Pirates scored the game's first run in the opening stanza. Jacob Doughty, the leadoff batter, reached first and second base when he hit a fly ball that was dropped in left field. A ground out by Morrison moved Doughty to third. Doughty scored on a wild pitch.

Three hits in the bottom of the first inning led to two runs for the Bearcats. Werkmeister-Martin and Dunnam both singled before Drew Baskin (Fy., INF, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) was hit by a pitch. Topping hit into a 6-3 double play, but Werkmeister-Martin scored to tie the game. Wagner followed with a single to center field to drive in Dunnam for a 2-1 lead.

Dryden smacked a solo homer to tie the score with two outs in the top of the fourth. Willamette regained the lead at 4-2 by scoring twice in the fifth inning. Hoffman doubled to start the frame and Whithorn singled with one out, placing runners at the corners. Werkmeister-Martin hit an RBI single to right and advanced to second on an error. Dunnam sent Whithorn home with a sacrifice bunt.

Sweum's leadoff homer in the sixth pulled Whitworth within 4-3. Willamette took control in the eighth inning when Baskin hit an RBI single through the left side, Topping produced an RBI double to center, and Wagner added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field.

Werkmeister-Martin went 3 for 3 with two runs and an RBI in the second game as he finished 4 for 7 on the day. Dunnam was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI in the second game. For Whitworth, Doughty was 2 of 4with a run scored.

The teams will complete the series with a game on Sunday, March 20. Game time at John Lewis Field is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).