GOING FOUR ROUNDS WITH THE BOXERS
Last weekend, the Loggers gave Linfield all they could handle, sending a game into extra inning and putting a stop to the Wildcat 12-game winning streak. The Loggers return home this weekend for a four-game series with Pacific (Ore.).
Loggers on Friday
Taking on the preseason favorite to win the Northwest Conference title, the Puget Sound Loggers dropped a pair of NWC baseball games to the Linfield Wildcats, 4-2 and 8-1, on Friday afternoon at Roy Helser Field in McMinnville, Ore.
In the first game, Linfield scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. The Loggers added a run in the third innings on a single by Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) that scored Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.). After field answered in the bottom of the inning, the Loggers narrowed the gap again in the top of the sixth on a solo home run to left field by senior Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.) but Linfield again answered back with a single run in the bottom of the eighth.
Tom Glassman (Tacoma, Wash./Biola) took the loss for Puget Sound, allowing four runs on nine hits with five walks and two strikeouts in seven and one-third innings pitched.
In the second game, it was all Wildcats as they cruised to a 8-1 win over the Loggers. Puget Sound got their lone run in the top of the ninth after Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) singled to score Devin Black (Evergreen, Colo.). Sophomore Dusty Kauflin (Boulder, Colo.) took the loss, allowing six runs on 12 hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Loggers on Saturday
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.
Statistically Speaking
The Loggers pitching staff is second in the Northwest Conference with a combined ERA of 5.12. Linfield leads that category with a 2.35 ERA. Olsen is third in hitting percentage at .435 and 11 home runs. The 11 home runs are second in the league. Olsen also leads the league with 27 runs scored.
Scouting Pacific (Ore.)
Pacific (Ore.) enters the weekend series 11-9 and 10-6 in NWC action. They sit at third and are one of the hottest team in the league winning their last six contests. Senior Matt Hendryx is swinging the bat at a .440 clip with 27 RBI's and seven home runs. The team is batting .322. From the hill, Sean Dickey is their leading pitcher. Dickey, a senior, has a 3.77 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 20 walks.
Head Coach Billings
Loggers Head Coach Brian Billings is in his sixth season. A 1999 graduate of Puget Sound, Billings is two wins shy of 100, sitting at 98-106-1 as head man for the Loggers.
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