Bearcats Strike Out 14 Batters in 9-5 Win at PLU, as Piazza Earns Three RBIs

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Four Willamette University pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters, and first baseman Luke Piazza (Jr., Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/Univ. of California, Davis) earned three hits and three RBIs, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 9-5, in a Northwest Conference baseball game on Sunday, March 10. The list of strikeouts included two by Brady Joyner (Sr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) in the ninth inning. Joyner struck out the potential game-tying batter with the bases loaded for the final out of the game.

Willamette improved to 9-2 on the season, including 4-2 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran, which won both games on Saturday to start the three-game series, fell to 3-9 overall, 2-3 in the NWC. Pitchers for the Lutes struck out 13 batters on Sunday, but walked the Bearcats 10 times. Willamette's pitchers allowed seven walks.

Joyner went to the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning. He opened the frame by striking out Brody Phinney, but walked the next two batters. Asa Reese fouled out to catcher Caden Davis (Fy., Everett, WA/Henry M. Jackson HS), before Peter King walked to load the bases. Joyner closed the game by striking out Brayden Adcox.

Logan Haslam (Sr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the Bearcats, and struck out three batters to earn the win. PLU tied the score at 5-5 with two unearned runs in the seventh. In the top of the eighth, Willamette scored four runs to take a 9-5 lead. Haslam began the bottom of the eighth with a strikeout, but Adcox hit an infield single and Rutger Youch singled to left. Youch was put out at second on a fielder's choice. A strikeout ended the threat.

Piazza was 3 of 4 for WU with two runs and three RBIs. Adam Birt (So., INF, Fremont, CA/Washington HS) finished 3 of 5 with one run and one RBI. Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) was 2 of 5 with a run and an RBI. Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) hit an RBI double, scored twice, and walked twice.

Each team plated a run in the first inning. For WU, Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) walked, went to second on a single by Lawson, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a bases-loaded walk by Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University). For PLU, Adcox singled and eventually scored on a single by Barber.

In the bottom of the second, the Lutes grabbed a 2-1 lead. Lukas Delisle walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by King, and later scored with two outs on a double by Youch.

The Bearcats answered with two runs in third, plus one run in the fourth, and one run in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. Piazza drove in both runs in the third with a two-out, bases-loaded single, as Lawson and Granucci scored. In the fourth, Birt singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Foster, before Granucci belted a two-out RBI double to center.

Piazza scored in the fifth. He singled with one out and later reached home on a bases-loaded walk to Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS).

The Lutes rallied to tie the game. Adcox opened the fifth with an infield single, went to second on a groundout, stole third base, and scored on a single by Ashton Barton. In the seventh, Youch reached base on a throwing error and Aaron Barber singled. One out later, both runners stole a base. With two outs, Rochne Beecham hit a two-RBI single.

Willamette's four-run eighth inning put the Bearcats in front, 9-5. Granucci and Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) walked, and Boone Rush (Sr., OF, Portland, OR/Grant HS/Linn-Benton CC) pinch-ran for Hoffman. Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt.

Thames reached base on an unsuccessful fielder's choice, as Granucci scored for a 6-5 lead. Piazza added a single to right field that sent Rush across the plate. Thames was thrown out at home when Davis hit into a fielder's choice. Birt tacked on an RBI single to score Piazza, and Foster hit an RBI single to drive in Davis.

Starting pitcher EJ McGrew (So., LHP, Oakland, CA/St. Mary's College Prep) pitched five innings and allowed five hits and three runs (two earned). He struck out eight batters and gave up three walks. Dylan Turner (So., RHP, Dallas, TX/Wilson HS) pitched one inning and had one strikeout. Haslam, 1-0, received the win. Logan Egge of PLU, 0-1, suffered the loss after allowing three runs in 2 2/3 innings despite striking out seven batters.

Adcox led the Lutes by going 3 for 6 with two runs scored. Youch, Barber, and Beecham each earned two hits. Youch had a double and one RBI. Beecham registered two RBIs.

Willamette will host Alfred State University (N.Y.) in a game on Wednesday, March 13 plus a game on Thursday, March 14. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. PDT each day.