FINAL ROAD TRIP OF 2008
Following a tough weekend at Logger Field, the Puget Sound baseball team will pack their bags for Newberg, Ore. as they take on George Fox on their final road trip of the season. They hope to play the spoiler to George Fox, who sits one game behind first place Linfield with eight to play.
Loggers on Saturday
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.
Loggers on Sunday
In the final two games of the season series, Willamette had their way with the Puget Sound Loggers 8-5 and 17-4 in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Logger Field.
Willamette (18-15, 14-10 NWC) took an early one run lead off Sean Anderson's RBI single. Michael Olsen (Niowt, Colo.) erased that in the bottom of the first frame with a RBI singe of his own to left field, scoring Shaun Kiriu (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou). Willamette would take a 4-2 lead going into the fourth. Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) sent his ninth homerun of the season over the left field fence, scoring Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck)and Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport), giving the Loggers a 5-4 lead. However, that would cap off the Loggers scoring output as the Bearcats would tack on four more to take the 8-5 victory.
Tom Glassman (Tacoma, Wash./Biola) falls to 1-5 on the season with the loss. He pitched five and one third innings, giving up six runs on 11 hits. Kelsey Nakata for the Bearcats improved to 3-1 and threw a complete game. He allowed five runs on eight hits.
In the final game, the Puget Sound (15-16, 11-13 NWC) battled with the Bearcats from beginning to end, but allowed Willamette to have a big fourth inning that sealed the 17-4 victory for Willamette. Newland picked up his ninth one run of the season with a two-RBI shot to leftfield in the third inning. Sophomore sensations Devin Black (Evergreen, Colo.) and Kainoa Correa (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea) picked up a pair of hits late in the ball game. Correa's shot was a stand up double to the centerfield fence scoring Chaz Kramer (Boulder, Colo./Silver Creek). Willamette first baseman Kyle Stalker hit his 20th home run of the season on Sunday, tying him with McMurry's David Derek for the nation's top homerun hitter.
Kiriu (0-1) picks up his first loss off the season. He threw three innings, allowing six hits and striking out five. Jarrid Summers (4-2) was the winning pitcher for the Bearcats, allowing six hits and striking out three.
Statistically Speaking
Michael Olsen remains atop the batting category, hitting .424 on the season. He's joined by Pacific's Matt Hendryx as the co-leaders. Olsen is also second in RBI's with 40 and homeruns with 12. Shaun Kiriu has hit 14 doubles, currently sitting second in the league. Ryan Gustafson has made more pitching appearances than anyone in the league with 13. He has picked up three saves, placing him third.
Scouting George Fox
As previously mentioned, George Fox is battling it out with Linfield for the league title and automatic berth to the NCAA Championships. The Bruins will enter the series with a mark of 19-5 in the Northwest Conference and 23-9 overall. They have won 10 straight, knocking off Whitman, Whitworth, and taking the final two from the Lutes.
Switch-hitting Ryan Fobert leads the team from the plate, hitting .397. Matt Wyckoff also is trouble from the plate, hitting at a .389 clip. He also is 9-9 in stolen bases. The left-handed first baseman has 19 RBI's on the season.
Shane Dalgleish is king of the hill in the Bruins staff. He carries a 3.03 ERA and perfect 6-0 record on nine appearances. Freshman Brian Davis is the top reliever, with a 1.93 ERA, three saves, and three wins in his 14 innings of work.
Head Coach Brain Billings
Loggers Head Coach Brian Billings is in his sixth season. A 1999 graduate of Puget Sound, Billings picked up his 100th coaching victory this season at the hands of the Lewis & Clark Pioneers. Billing coaching record sits at 102-114-1 as head man for the Loggers.
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