LOGGERS SPLIT TWINBILL WITH FIRST-PLACE 'CATS
McMINNVILLE, Ore. - After losing the first game in extra innings, the Puget Sound Loggers held off the Linfield Wildcats in the series finale to earn a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon at Roy Helser Field in McMinnville, Ore. Linfield won the first game, 5-4, in eight innings before Puget Sound collected the 3-2 win in the second game.
In the first game, Linfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead following the first frame but the Loggers didn't give up. Puget Sound got on the board in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.). After Linfield answered with a single run in the bottom of the fourth, the Loggers used another bomb by Olsen, this time a three-run blast, in the top of the fifth to tie the game up a 4-4. Neither offense could get a run across in the remaining innings of regulation. After the Loggers went one-two-three in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats used a bases-loaded fielders choice to get across the winning run at clinch the series for Linfield. Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) took the loss, allowing just one run on two hits in three and one-third innings pitched with four strikeouts.
In the second game, the Wildcats struck first again, this time picking up two runs in the bottom of the second. Puget Sound responded in the top of the sixth, earning their first run on a bases-loaded walk by Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) that scored freshman Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport). The Loggers then took the lead on a two-RBI double by Shaun Kiriu (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) that scored Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) and Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) and gave UPS a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Jarvis Nohara (Honolulu. Hawaii/Iolani) earned the win for Puget Sound after pitching four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit.
The Loggers return to Tacoma next weekend when they play host to Pacific in a Northwest Conference series. First pitch with the Boxers is set for Saturday at Noon on Logger Baseball Field in Tacoma, Wash.
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