Willamette Defeats Whitworth 8-4 to Win NWC Tournament, Earn NCAA Berth

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Willamette University baseball players Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) and Rocco Granucci (Jr., RF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) each blasted a home run as the Bearcats outscored Whitworth University, 8-4, in the championship game of the 2024 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament on Sunday, May 12 at Borleske Stadium. Willamette won the NWC Tournament Championship and earned the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Bearcats upped their record to 28-13 on the season, while Whitworth fell to 28-14.

The Bearcats trailed 2-1 before Hoffman's two-run homer gave Willamette a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Later, the score was tied 4-4 before Granucci hit a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to put Willamette in front, 5-4. The Bearcats plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

On Monday, May 13, the NCAA Division III Baseball Selection Show will be at 12:30 p.m. EDT / 9:30 a.m. PDT at NCAA.com.

"We did a great job all weekend of staying in the moment and answering back when we needed to," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Mike Coduto commented. "We got ahead of hitters all day on the mound, and executed some big pitches down the stretch. We got three quality starts from our staff this weekend, and everyone else was able to answer when their number was called."

Team photo of the Willamette University Bearcats after winning the 2024 NWC Baseball Tournament Championship

For Willamette in the NWC Championship game, Tassos Foster (Sr., 2B, Novato, CA/Novato HS), and Luke Piazza (Jr., 1B, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS/UC Davis) both finished 2 of 4. Piazza pounded a double, drove in two runs, scored once, and walked once. Foster scored twice with a walk and an RBI. Granucci went 2 for 5 with a home run and a stolen base, while Hoffman contributed a home run, walked once, and scored twice.

Wyatt Thames (Jr., OF, Elk Grove, CA/Huntington Beach HS/Biola University) was credited with a hit, two runs, and two stolen bases for the Bearcats. Clint Walker (Grad., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) achieved a hit and an RBI, plus two walks and a stolen base.

Whitworth players Austin Paul, Dominic Giusti, Aaron Clogston, and Kevin Corder each registered two hits for the Pirates. Giusti and Clogston both scored two runs, while Paul and Corder each drove in two runs.

The Bearcats scored in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Piazza opened with a double to center. Carl Lawson (Sr., LF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) hit a sacrifice to move Piazza to third. Walker singled to right, scoring Piazza. Whitworth took a 2-1 edge in the top of the fifth when Corder doubled, allowing Giusti and Clogston to score.

In the Willamette half of the fifth inning, Foster received a leadoff walk. Hoffman batted next and smacked his 12th home run of the season and the 43rd home run in his career. He trails only record holder Kyle Stalker on Willamette's home run list. Stalker ('09) blasted 51 home runs from 2006-09.

Thames was hit by a pitch to start the sixth for Willamette. He stole second base and third base before scoring when Foster hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Willamette led 4-2. The Pirates tied the score in the top of the seventh. With one out, Giusti doubled and Clogston singled. Corder hit a sacrifice bunt to put the runners at second and third. Paul drove in Giusti and Clogston with a single to right.

Granucci batted first in the bottom of the seventh and quickly broke the tie with his ninth homer of the season. "I was trying to stay calm during the at bat," Granucci said. "Trying to start a rally for the team. I got a pitch to hit and was able to give us the lead."

Whitworth batter Elijah Tanner singled to start the eighth and went to second on a sacrifice by Spencer Shipman, but Pruitt Spritzer (Grad., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) struck out Ty Quiggle and Henry Zaske to end the threat.

Three runs by the Bearcats later in the eighth inning provided insurance before Brady Joyner (Sr., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS) pitched for Willamette in the ninth.

Willamette's three-run surge began when Thames singled toward the mound. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carter Stoltz (Fy., C, Davis, CA/Davis HS) and scored on a single by Foster. After Hoffman was hit by a pitch, Granucci grounded out to advance the runners. Foster and Hoffman reached home when Piazza connected on a two-run single to left.

Joyner faced just four batters in the last inning, as the Pirates registered a groundout and a single, followed by two strikeouts. Spritzer, who struck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings, improved to 4-0 with the win. Starter Steven Verespey (So., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) pitched 4 1/3 innings while striking out six batters and allowing five hits and two runs. Overall, four Willamette pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.