O'Connor Belts Two Doubles and Scores a Run in Loss to Whitworth

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Liam O'Connor (Fy., SS, Evergreen, CO/Conifer HS) of Willamette University hit two doubles and scored a run against Whitworth University on Sunday, March 24, but the Pirates defeated the Bearcats, 9-2, in the third game of a Northwest Conference series at Merkel Field. The teams split a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 to start the series, with Willamette winning the first game, 6-2, and Whitworth claiming the second game, 6-2.

Following the weekend games, Willamette moved to 15-4 overall, 8-4 in the NWC. Of Willamette's first 12 conference games, nine have been played on the road. Whitworth improved to 14-4 on the season, 5-3 in the NWC.

The Pirates created a 7-0 lead after three innings by scoring three times in the second inning and four times in the third. Prior to Whitworth taking the lead, Willamette had runners at second and third with two outs in the second inning after Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B/LF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/UC Davis) walked and O'Connor hit his first double near the left field line. A flyout to left center ended the threat.

In the bottom of the second, Henry Zaske blasted a solo home run for the Pirates. Ty Quiggle followed with a walk, and stole second two outs later. Jacob Doughty tripled to center field to score Quiggle. Aaron Clogston added an RBI double, sending Doughty across the plate to give Whitworth a 3-0 margin.

The Whitworth half of the third inning began with singles by Aidan Morrison and Elijah Tanner. A flyout moved Morrison to third base. Tanner stole second, and Quiggle walked to load the bases. Spencer Shipmen connected on a two-run double to right field, and Kevin Corder tripled to drive in two more runs. Whitworth added a solo home run by Morrison in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 8-0.

Willamette put two runs on the scoreboard in the fifth. O'Connor smacked a double to start the inning. A single by Caden Davis (Fy., C/1B, Everett, WA/Henry M. Jackson HS) advanced O'Connor to third. A groundout by Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) moved Davis to second.

Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) batted next and hit an RBI single down the left field line to score O'Connor. Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) hit a line drive that was caught in left field for a sacrifice fly, as Davis scored. A strikeout left two runners on base.

Whitworth added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Hunter Dryden, who singled with one out, scored with two outs on a single by Tanner.

The Pirates outhit the Bearcats, 11-9, while earning a 6-3 edge in extra-base hits. For the Bearcats, Davis and Piazza each went 2 for 3, while O'Connor was 2 of 4 with his two doubles. Piazza also hit a double for Willamette.  Three Whitworth players also recorded two hits. Morrison was 2 of 4 with a homer and two runs scored. Shipman went 2 of 4 with a double, one run, and two RBI. Tanner was 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI.

Quentin O'Connor, the starting pitcher for the Pirates, improved to 3-1 with the win. He pitched five innings, while allowing both runs and five hits. He registered four strikeouts with two walks. Conner Ashworth pitched the last four innings to earn a save. WU starter EJ McGrew (So., LHP, Oakland, CA/St. Mary's College Prep) threw three innings and fell to 3-1. He struck out four batters and gave up two walks.

Willamette is set to host nearby rival Linfield University in an NWC series on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30 at John Lewis Field. On Friday, the Bearcats and the Wildcats will play a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. PDT. On Saturday, the teams will play a single game at 12 p.m.