Willamette Pounds Pacific 23-6 and 15-2 in Doubleheader to Start NWC Series

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- The Willamette University Bearcats accumulated 34 hits as they defeated Pacific University 23-6 and 15-2 in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at Chuck Bafaro Stadium on Saturday, April 6. Willamette improved its record to 19-5 on the season, including 12-5 in the NWC. Pacific fell to 15-9 overall, 4-6 in the NWC. The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday, April 7, starting at 12 p.m. PDT.

The Bearcats belted 19 hits, including two homers and four doubles in the first game. WU led 8-6 after six innings, but scored 15 runs in the final three frames, including nine in the ninth. In the second game, the Bearcats earned 15 hits, including three homers and four doubles. The Bearcats held a 12-1 lead after four innings.

Bearcats Pull Away in First Game with 15 Runs in Last Three Innings

In the first game, Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B/LF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/UC Davis) hit a two-run homer and Charlie Ferbet (Sr., INF, St. Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit HS) blasted a grand slam. Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University) tied a school record with seven at bats.

The Bearcats trailed 6-5 after four innings, but scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth for an 8-6 lead. Willamette surged away with two runs in the seventh, four in the eighth, and nine in the ninth for a 23-6 win.

In the second inning, Thames hit an RBI single and later scored to break a 1-1 tie and give WU a 3-1 lead. After Pacific tallied a run in the bottom of the second, the Bearcats took a 5-2 lead by scoring twice in the third.

The Boxers plated four runs in the fourth to claim a 6-5 advantage. Jack Rhea belted an RBI double and two runs later scored on wild pitches. Matt Gibbs hit an RBI single. Pacific did not score again during the game.

Willamette took the lead back at 7-6 when Piazza hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) also scored on the play. WU increased the margin to 8-6 in the sixth when Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) scored on a sacrifice fly by Granucci.

WU finished strong. Granucci and Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) each hit an RBI single in the seventh. Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) and Lawson both hit a two-run single in the eighth. The ninth inning featured an RBI single by Carter Stoltz (Fy., C, Davis, CA/Davis HS) and Ferbet's grand slam.

Granucci was 3 of 4, Foster went 3 of 6, and Thames was 3 of 7 for WU. Hoffman, Lawson, and Piazza each provided two hits. Lawson and Ferbet both had four RBIs, while Hoffman scored four runs. Starting pitcher Layton Wagner (Grad., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) advanced his record to 6-1. The Boxers used seven pitchers, with Ayden Ruminski (1-1) taking the loss. Gibbs and Dawson Tokishi each registered two hits for Pacific.

Willamette Scores Six Runs in 2nd Inning as Bearcats Grab 15-2 Win

Hoffman smacked two homers in the second game, giving him eight on the season and 39 in his career. Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) belted one homer. Hoffman, Foster, Walker, and Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) led Willamette's 15-hit attack with two hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Steven Verespey (So., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) tossed five innings. He allowed one run and three hits, while striking out six Boxers and giving up two walks. Dylan Turner (So., RHP, Dallas, TX/Wilson HS) pitched the last four innings and allowed one run while earning three strikeouts.

Pacific took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer by CJ Colyer with one out in the first inning. The Bearcats countered with six runs in the top of the second. A single to center by Thames brought in Walker with the tying run. Later, Foster pounded a bases-clearing double to left for a 4-1 lead. Hoffman batted next and sent a two-run homer over the left field fence.

A pair of RBI doubles by Baskin and Piazza in the third inning upped WU's lead to 8-1. Another two-run homer from Hoffman in the fourth inning was followed immediately by a solo homer from Granucci. Later in the fourth inning, Lawson scored on a wild pitch for a 12-1 lead.

Willamette tallied three runs in the top of the sixth, starting with an RBI single by Baskin. Baskin and Boone Rush (Sr., OF, Portland, OR/Grant HS/Linn-Benton CC) eventually scored when Foster reached base on an error in the outfield. Jake Gallagher of Pacific drove in Walker Matthews with a single in the bottom of the sixth.

Verespey improved to 4-2 with the win. Pacific starter Governor Aufranc fell to 2-2 with the loss. WU outhit the Boxers 15-8. Eight players each had one hit for Pacific.