Wagner Strikes Out 10, Verespey Fans Six, in 10-0 and 13-3 Wins over Tigers

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Layton Wagner (Sr., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) struck out 10 batters in the opener, and Steven Verespey (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) struck out six batters in the second game, as Willamette University defeated Occidental College 10-0 and 13-3 at John Lewis Field on Saturday, May 6. Wagner and Verespey each pitched six innings as the Bearcats won both games on the 10-run rule in seven innings. WU improved to 24-14 on the season, while the Occidental dropped to 5-34.

Wagner and Verespey both improved to 5-4 on the season. Wagner allowed no runs, no walks, and just six hits, all singles. Verespey gave up three runs, including two solo homers, but allowed only three other hits, all singles.

Samuel Daly (Jr., RHP, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) tossed the final inning for Willamette in the first game and gave up no runs and one hit. In the second game, Logan Haslam (Jr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) tossed the final inning and allowed no runs and no hits, while striking out two batters. WU pitchers struck out 18 batters during the doubleheader.

The offensive also contributed in a big way. Willamette accumulated 10 hits in the first game, including homers by Jonny Suchor (Sr., OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS), Jackson Garrett (Jr., UT, Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS/Palomar College), and Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Sr., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS). The Bearcats pounded 16 hits in the second game, as Werkmeister-Martin and Jeff Hoffman (Jr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) each blasted a double.

In addition, the Bearcats did not commit an error on defense, while Occidental committed five errors, including three in the second game. The teams are set to play one game on Sunday, May 7 at 12 p.m. (PDT). It will be Senior Day for the Bearcats.

Bearcats Belt Three Homers in 5-Run Third Inning

Willamette took a 2-0 lead in the first game in the bottom of the second. Rocco Granucci (So., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) singled to open the frame. One out later, he went to second on a passed ball. After reaching third on a groundout, Granucci scored when Drew Baskin (So., 2B, Eagle, ID/Arroyo Grande HS) sent a double into right center. Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) followed with an RBI single to right, allowing Baskin to score.

The margin for the Bearcats increased to 7-0 with five runs in the third. Suchor blasted a leadoff homer to left field. Hoffman walked, moved to second on a balk, and scored on a single by Granucci. Garrett smacked a two-run homer over the right field fence, and Werkmeister-Martin tacked on a solo homer to left field.

WU completed the scoring with three runs in the fourth. Ethan Dunnam (Sr., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) doubled down the left field line to start the inning. Suchor grounded out to push Dunnam to third. Ethan Fischel (Grad., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) hit an RBI single up the middle. Later in the inning, two runs scored on bases loaded walks issued to Werkmeister-Martin and Baskin.

For the Bearcats on offense, Granucci was 2 for 2 with three runs and an RBI. Suchor went 2 of 2 with a solo homer. Six other Bearcats earned one hit. Solid pitching by Wagner and Daly kept Occidental in check, as Nicholas Gonzalez was the only Tiger with more than one hit. Gonzalez was 2 for 3 at the plate.

Granucci, Foster Each Earn Hits in Game 2

In the second game, Tassos Foster (So., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS) was 3 of 4 for the Bearcats with a run and two RBIs, while Granucci went 3 for 5 with a run and three RBIs. Walker was 2 of 3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Hoffman and Suchor each finished 2 of 4 and Fischel went 2 for 5. Fischel scored three runs, while Suchor scored twice and Hoffman drove in two runs.

The Bearcats provided an offensive surge in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits and one error. Key hits were RBI singles by Fischel, Garrett, and Foster. Occidental cut the lead to 4-1 with a solo homer by Jonathan Marshall to start the second inning.

Willamette tallied three runs in the third stanza to grab a 7-1 edge. With one out Garrett was hit by a pitch. Werkmeister-Martin blasted a double to left center and Foster hit an RBI single to drive home Garrett. Walker batted next and placed a two-run single through the right side, as Werkmeister-Martin and Foster crossed the plate.

Kyle Sugimoto of Occidental hit an RBI single in the top of the fourth. Two innings later, Jeffery Cambra belted a leadoff homer for the Tigers in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-3.

WU scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and added three runs in the bottom of the seventh to achieve the run-rule victory. In the sixth, Hoffman provided an RBI double and Granucci hit a two-RBI single. In the seventh, the first run was scored when Suchor hit a sacrifice fly that was caught by the shortstop in shallow left field. The shortstop had to turn around before throwing the ball, while Walker dashed from third base and beat the throw to the plate. Hoffman and Granucci each tacked on an RBI single.

Other Key Plays for Willamette

The doubleheader also featured standout plays by Suchor, Walker, and Granucci in the outfield. Suchor made a catch against the fence in left field. Walker registered an outstanding catch in center field. Granucci threw out a runner at third base after grabbing the ball on a single to right field.