LOGGERS SPLIT BATTLE WITH BEARCATS
Written By Jermaine Williams, UPS Athletics
TACOMA, Wash. - Saturday, the Willamette Bearcats and the Puget Sound Loggers slugged their way to a 0-10 and 14-13 split in a Northwest Conference tilt at Logger Field.
In game one, the Loggers struggled to find their bat power, only logging four hits off of Willamette's (16-15, 12-10 NWC) starter Clint Moran. The Loggers (15-14, 11-11 NWC) mounted a few rallies late but couldn't muster enough power to push a run across the plate. Willamette won game one 10-0.
Jarvis Nohara (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) started for Puget Sound and pitched two inning, giving up two runs in the loss. Nohara, 3-2 on the season, allowed only one hit in his outing. Moran tabbed his fifth win of the season, pitching a complete game shutout. He allowed four hits and struck out four.
The slugfest began in game two when both teams combined for 27 runs, 34 hits, and saw nine pitchers. The Loggers scored early and often, putting 10 runs on the board in the first five innings. Puget Sound opened the game with a pair of singles by Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) and Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.). Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) hit sacrifice fly plating the Loggers first run.
Small ball was the name of the game for Puget Sound as they hit routine singles and doubles into the gaps picking up runs and pushing their lead to as large as eight after three. Willamette answered with a five spot in the top of the fourth inning, capped off by a T.C. Lee grand slam home run to cut the Logger lead to 9-6. The Loggers plated a run in the bottom of the fourth via a throwing error by the right fielder, but that silenced the bats, opening it up for five more runs to be scored in the sixth and seventh inning for Willamette
Staring an 11-10 deficit in the face, the Loggers rallied the troops. Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) and clutch pinch hitter Tanner Moylett (Tualatin, Ore./Sherwood) began the inning with another pair of singles. Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.) hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position for Jason Powell's (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) game tying rip to left field. Sean Kiriu Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) would send in two more runs with his hard hit single to right center while Resnik picked up his third RBI of the game with his double into center. Loggers had a comfortable 14-10 lead heading into the final frame.
The Bearcats would not go down without a fight as Logger pitcher Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) faced the heart of the Willamette order in Lee and Northwest Conference homerun leader Kyle Stalker. With two runners on base and one down, Gustafson sat Lee down on a called strike three. Both of the next two batters would send two runners home, leaving it up to designated hitter Colin Young. Young, with runners at the corners, down two, and a full count, struck out swinging to end the game. The Loggers were victorious in a wild game two 14-13.
Gustafson won his fourth game of the season as he pitched three and two-thirds innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out three. Jack McGee drew the loss for Willamette, dropping his record to 1-1. McGee pitched two innings, allowing six hits and four runs.
These two teams will duel again tomorrow in a pair of seven inning games beginning at 12:00 noon at Logger Field.
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