By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Rocco Granucci (Jr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) blasted two solo home runs and was 3 for 3 at the plate, as Willamette University defeated Alfred State College, 11-2, on Wednesday, March 13 at John Lewis Field. Willamette starting pitcher Pruitt Spritzer (Sr., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) tossed seven innings and struck out seven batters, while allowing two runs, including one unearned run.
The Bearcats improved to 10-2 on the season. Alfred State dropped to 4-9. The Bearcats will host the Pioneers again on Thursday, March 14, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. PDT.
Willamette outhit the Pioneers 12-7. In addition to Granucci's homers, the Bearcats also benefited from one double each by Clint Walker (Sr., CF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS), Jeff Hoffman (Sr., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS), Nate Hamburger (Fy., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Royal HS), and Caden Davis (Fy., C/1B, Everett, WA/Henry M. Jackson HS).
Carl Lawson (Sr., OF, Whittier, CA/Lutheran HS/Cal Poly Pomona) was 2 of 5 for the Bearcats with a run and an RBI. Liam O'Connor (Fy., SS, Evergreen, CO/Conifer HS) went 2 for 3 with a run, a walk, and an RBI. Granucci finished with three runs and two RBIs. Also recording two RBIs were Walker and Hamburger.
Tyler Petery of Alfred State went 3 for 5 at the plate and scored both runs for the Pioneers. Four other ASC players each recorded one hit.
Tahj Orona (So., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Chandler HS) and Logan Haslam (Sr., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) both pitched one scoreless and hitless inning to complete the game for the Bearcats. Haslam also registered one strikeout. Spritzer moved to 1-0 on the season, while Alfred State starter Spencer Riehler fell to 0-1.
Granucci's home runs were hit in the first and third innings and tied the game for the Bearcats each time. WU pulled away from the 2-2 deadlock with one run in the fourth inning, five in the fifth, and three in the seventh.
In the top of the first, Petery opened the game with a single for Alfred State. He later scored with one out on a single by Tyler Korsky. The Pioneers left the bases loaded. Granucci smacked a homer to left field for the Bearcats with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Hoffman followed with a double, but a flyout ended the inning.
The Pioneers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second stanza, when Petery hit an infield single with two outs and scored when Elijah Barinas hit into a two-base throwing error. Grannuci's second homer with two outs in the third inning also went over the left field fence to tie the score.
WU moved in front for good in the bottom of the fourth. Jackson Garrett (Sr., UT, Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad HS/Palomar College) singled through the left side. One out later, he stole second base. With two outs, O'Connor singled to right field, driving home Garrett. A throw into the infield hit the first base umpire and went into foul territory, allowing O'Connor to reach second on the error.
The Bearcats took control with five runs during the fifth inning. Walker walked and stole second base, before scoring on a single by Lawson. Granucci walked, and then both runners advanced a base on a flyout to center field. With two outs, Adam Birt (So., INF, Fremont, CA/Washington HS) walked to load the bases. Hamburger batted next and sent a two-run double down the left field line to score Lawson and Granucci. O'Conner reached first and second on an infield throwing error, as Birt and Hamburger crossed the plate.
Willamette tallied the final three runs in the seventh. Garrett was hit by a pitch and went to second when O'Connor walked with two outs. Davis hit an rBI single and Walker smacked a two-RBI double.
