Murphy Blasts Homer in 8-Run Inning, as Bearcats Down Sagehens 13-8

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- After building a 5-2 lead in the first five innings, Willamette University pulled away with an eight-run outburst in the sixth inning for a 13-2 lead, as the Bearcats defeated Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.), 13-8, in the first game of an NCAA Division III two-team regional on Friday, May 17. The Bearcats need two more victories in the best-of-five series with the Sagehens to win the regional and advance to a super regional. Joshua Murphy (Sr., C, Everett, WA/Cascade HS/Olympic College) smacked a solo home run to start the huge sixth inning for the Bearcats.

Willamette improved to 29-13 on the season. Pomona-Pitzer dropped to 32-12. The teams will play the second and third games of the series as a doubleheader on Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 a.m. PDT at Alumni Field. If needed, an additional game or two games will be played on Sunday, May 19, starting at 10 a.m. PDT.

"We were able to grind out at bats early and get to their bullpen early," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Mike Coduto said. "We just kept putting quality at bats together and we were able to get that big inning."

On Friday, the Bearcats registered 13 hits. Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) was 3 for 5 with a walk, two runs, and three RBIs. Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) was 2 of 4 with a stolen base and two RBIs. Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) was 2 of 4 with a double, two walks, two runs, and two RBIs. Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) added a 2 for 6 performance with one run and one RBIs.

Drew Baskin (Jr., SS, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) hit a two-run double. Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University) hit a double and scored twice. Murphy and Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/UC Davis) each crossed the plate two times for the Bearcats.

"We knew he (Sagehens starter Jake Hilton) was a good pitcher," Walker commented. "We knew he was going to attack the zone early. The biggest thing was just having our next man up mentality. You're battling ... so then eventually when he misses one, we're in a good position hit it. Even if you make an out, the next guy is going to pick you up. I think we did a perfect job of that today."

Starting pitcher Layton Wagner (Grad., RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) tossed 7 1/3 innings on his way to the win. He upped his season record to 10-3 and moved into a tie for second on WU's single season list for pitching wins in a season. He is tied with Matt Kosderka (1998) and Nik Lubisich (2021). Matt Steindorf set the record of 11 wins in 2018. Wagner is the Bearcats' career leader with 272 strikeouts and is sixth all-time at Willamette with 22 career wins.

"With our offense, it makes it a little easier. I'm able to give up a couple of runs early," Wagner said. "I was riding that offense and trusting my defense. Not walking guys. It's usually a good formula for us."

Willamette took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Thames started the inning with a double to left field. Murphy reached base when he hit a fielder's choice toward third and Thames was able to get back to second base. Foster singled through the right side to score Thames and Hoffman singled through the left side to send Murphy across the plate.

Later, Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) received a walk with the bases loaded to allow Foster to score. Hilton escaped further damage in the third by forcing Baskin to hit into a fielder's choice double play at third and home.

JC Ng opened the bottom of the third with a single for Pomona-Pitzer. The ball was misplayed in center field and Ng went to second. He scored on a single to left by Isaac Kim. The Sagehens pulled within 3-2 when Jimmy Legg walked and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by William Kinney.

The Bearcats reinforced the slim lead with two runs in the fifth. With one out, Granucci singled to left and Piazza walked. With two outs, Baskin also walked. Walker batted next and provided a two-run single up the middle for a 5-3 edge.

Willamette's big sixth inning exploded the lead to an 11-run margin. The eight runs were scored on seven hits. Murphy's leadoff homer set the stage for the offensive success. The next four batters earned hits, with Foster and Hoffman contributing singles, Granucci belting an RBI double, and Piazza hitting an RBI single. Lawson was hit by a pitch and Granucci scored on a wild pitch. Baskin drove in the next two runs with a double near the right field line. A bit later, Foster drove in Baskin and Thames with a single for a 13-2 lead.

The Sagehens scored one run in the seventh, two in the eighth, and three in the ninth, but couldn't overcome the large deficit. Kim blasted a solo home run in the seventh, and Legg hit a solo homer in the eighth. Legg finished 2 of 4 with three runs, and two RBIs. Kim was 2 of 5 with a run and two RBIs. Greg Pierantoni also was 2 of 5 for Pomona-Pitzer. Hilton threw five innings and fell to 9-2 with the loss. He registered eight strikeouts, but gave up five runs on six hits and six walks.