HOME DEBUT
Following a split with the Whitworth Pirates in the Northwest Conference opener, the Loggers will play a four-game series at Logger Field with Whitman this weekend.
The Loggers on Saturday
After exploding for 20 runs in the nightcap, the Puget Sound Loggers forced a split with the Whitworth Pirates in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Lewiston, Idaho. The Loggers fell 6-0 in the first game before blasting the Pirates, 20-1, in the second game.
In the first game, the Loggers (3-2, 1-1 NWC) fell behind early as the Pirates got a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Whitworth added two more runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth to take the 6-0 lead over the Loggers. Puget Sound was held in check at the plate most of the contest, picking up just four hits during the contest, including two from senior Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck). Tom Glassman (Tacoma, Wash./Biola) took the loss for the Loggers, allowing six runs, four of them earned, on eight hits in seven and two-thirds innings.
In the second game, the Pirates again took an early lead after picking up a lone run in the bottom of the first but sophomore hurler Dusty Kauflin (Boulder, Colo.) slammed the door shut on the Pirates, allowing just two hits over nine innings with eight strikeouts to collect the shutout and the win. With Kauflin silencing the Whitworth bats, the Puget Sound bats took over as the Loggers scored 20 runs on 18 hits to collect the 20-1 win.
Defending NWC Hitter of the Week Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.) showed the Pirates why he earned the honor but hitting a grand slam in the top of the eighth. Olsen finished game two with six RBIs and three runs after going three-for-five from the plate. Newland went four-of-six from the dish with three RBIs to finish the day six-of-10 from the plate.
The Loggers on Sunday
After earning a split on Saturday, the Puget Sound Loggers and Whitworth Pirates played to a split on Sunday afternoon as well in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader at Church Field in Lewiston, Idaho. The Pirates won the first game, 7-4, before the Loggers picked up the win in game two, 11-6.
In the first game, the Loggers (4-3, 2-2 NWC) got on the scoreboard first after Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.) hit a single to right field to score Doug Cox (Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo) and Jason Powel (Redwood City, Calif/Sacred Heart Prep). The Pirates answered back with two in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and then two more in the third to take the lead. The Loggers tied it up again in the fourth after Powell scored on an error and then Olsen doubled to score Shaun Kiriu (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou). The Pirates retook the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth and then added an insurance run in the sixth to take the 7-4 win. Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) took the loss for UPS, allowing three runs on four hits in two and two-thirds innings pitched.
In the second game, the Loggers again took an early lead in the second inning when Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.) singled to score Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) and Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck). The Pirates put five runs across in the bottom of the inning before the Loggers began the comeback, eventually retaking the lead when Jarvis Nohara (Honoulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored on a wildpitch that gave UPS a 7-6 lead. The Loggers added three more in the fifth and a single tally in the seventh to take the 11-6 win. In addition to scoring the winning run, Nohara also got the win on the mound, pitching three and one-third scoreless innings of relief with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
Olsen finished the day four-for-seven from the plate. Nohara was three-for-four in the second game with three runs scores and four RBIs. Powell also had a strong day offensively, going three-for-six with two runs scored and one RBI.
Statistically Speaking
The Loggers pitching staff currently ranks second in the NWC with a combined earned run average of 4.97. Linfield tops the league at 3.60.
NWC Player of the Week
Dusty Kauflin picked up a complete-game, two-hitter in the 20-1 win over Whitworth, allowing one run while striking out eight and walking two batters last week earning him the NWC Pitcher of the Week.
Scouting Whitman
Whitman enters this weekend's series with a 2-6 record, including a 11-3 loss at the hands of the Loggers earlier in the season. The Missionaries are led in offense by Adam Knappe. Knappe, a senior, is hitting .333 and tallied three runs-batted-in. Austin Shackelford, hitting .261, also adds power to the line-up for Whitman. He has the teams three homeruns and leads the runs-batted-in category with eight.
Defensively, Sean Day has started two contest with one no decision and a loss. Day has 13.2 innings pitched and a earned run average of 7.90. Mike Rathwell has appeared late in three games, with six innings pitched, a 0.00 earned run average, and a team leading five strikeouts.
Head Coach Billings
Logger Head Coach Brian Billings returns for his sixth season at the helm. A 1999 graduate of Puget Sound, Billings holds a 91-101-1 record as the Loggers' lead man.
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