Bearcats Down Occidental 12-9 on Senior Day; Joyner Ties Record with 10th Save

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Four Bearcats hit a home run and Brady Joyner (Jr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) tied a school record with his 10th save of the season, as Willamette University defeated Occidental College (Calif.), 12-9, on Sunday, May 7 at John Lewis Field. Willamette swept the three-game series while scoring a total of 35 runs. The Bearcats concluded the season with a 25-14 overall record. Occidental ended its season at 5-35.

It was Senior Day for the Bearcats, who honored the team's 11 seniors prior to the game. WU's seniors are Will Braaton (Jr., RHP, Highlands Ranch, CO/Thunderridge HS), Samuel Daly (Jr., RHP, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS), Ethan Dunnam (Sr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS), Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS), Ben Kowalski (Jr., RHP, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), William Miner (Sr., UT/Student Coach, Lehi, UT/Lehi HS), Pruitt Spritzer (Sr., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep), Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS), Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS), and Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS).

Willamette's home runs were hit by Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) in the first inning, Dunnam in the second, Suchor in the third, and Tassos Foster (So., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) in the sixth.

Joyner's 10th save tied the Willamette record set by Chris Hopton in 1993 and by Mike Corey in 1994. During his career, Joyner has registered 19 saves, which rank second all-time for the Bearcats. The WU career record for saves is 23, set by Corey from 1994-98.

The Bearcats took charge by scoring six runs in the first inning. Fischel walked with one out and Hoffman blasted a two-run homer to left field. It was Hoffman's team-leading 10th homer of the season and the 31st home run of his career. Hoffman is third in career homers for the Bearcats. He trails only Kyle Stalker (51 in 2006-09) and T.C. Lee (34 in 2008-11). Later in the inning, Walker hit an RBI single, another run scored on a fielder's choice and an error, and Suchor provided a two-run single.

Miles Capobianco of Occidental hit a solo home run to start the second inning, but Willamette responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning for a 9-1 lead. All three runs scored on a homer by Dunnam that went over the left field fence. Wagner, who singled, and Foster, who was hit by a pitch, also scored on the play.

After the Tigers tallied one run in the top of the third inning, the Bearcats added a run of their own with a leadoff homer by Suchor in the bottom of the third. Willamette held a 10-2 edge. Occidental followed with six runs in the fourth inning to trim the margin to 10-8. Key hits were RBI doubles by Nolan Upchurch and Ari Solomon, plus a two-run single by Jonathan Marshall and a two-run double by Capobianco.

The Bearcats maintained the two-run lead until Willamette plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Werkmeister-Martin singled with one out and Foster smacked a two-run homer to left field with two outs, extending WU's lead to 12-8.

Joyner went to the mound with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh. He walked Solomon, forcing Capobianco across the plate. Joyner then struck out Garrett Palme and Marshall to end the inning. In the eighth, Joyner struck out the side. In the ninth, he forced a lineout and two flyouts. He struck out five batters in 2 2/3 innings and allowed no hits.

Kowalski, 1-0, was the winning pitcher for Willamette. He pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed no runs, while striking out three batters and giving up two hits. Pitchers for the Bearcats struck out 11 batters during the game and struck out 29 batters during the three-game series.

Suchor was 2 for 3 on offense for the Bearcats with his solo home run and three RBIs. Six WU players earned one hit apiece. Dunnam matched Suchor with three RBIs, while Hoffman and Foster each achieved two RBIs. Foster led Willamette with three runs scored. For Occidental, Marshall finished 2 of 4 with a run and three RBIs. Capobianco was 2 of 4 with two runs and a trio of RBIs.