LOGGERS AND LUTES SET TO BATTLE
The Loggers all but took the Northwest Conference title hopes from George Fox this past weekend in Newberg, Ore. The Bruins and Loggers split the series, putting the Bruins three games behind Linfield with four to go. Now, the Loggers will rumble with cross-town rival Pacific Lutheran in the season finales for both clubs.
Loggers on Saturday
Combining for 15 runs, 25 hits and 70 minutes of rain delays, the Puget Sound Loggers dropped a Northwest Conference baseball game at the George Fox Bruins, 11-4, on Saturday in Newberg, Ore. In the nightcap, the Loggers lead the Bruins, 5-3, in the fifth inning of a suspended game that will be resumed on Sunday.
In the first game, the Bruins struck for six runs in the bottom of the first and continued to add to their lead, holding a 11-0 lead after six full frames. The Loggers finally woke up offensively in the top of the seventh when Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.) drew a bases-loaded walk to score Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.). Doug Cox (Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo) then singled to score Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) and Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) reached on a fielders choice that scored Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.).
The Loggers added one more run in the eighth when Beck doubled to right field to score Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) but it wasn't enough to prevent George Fox from collecting the 11-4 victory. Tom Glassman (Tacoma, Wash./Biola) took the loss, allowing nine runs, all earned, on 11 hits with four strikeouts and five walks. Nick Bratney got the win, allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in eight innings pitched.
Loggers on Sunday
Senior Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.) added two more home runs to his season totals and the Puget Sound Loggers added two more wins to their season totals, finishing a nine-inning suspended game with a win before splitting a pair of seven-inning Northwest Conference baseball games with the George Fox Bruins on Sunday in Newberg, Ore.
The day began in the sixth inning of a nine-inning contest with the Loggers leading 5-3. The Bruins picked up two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game up at 5-5 but Olsen hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the top of the ninth to score Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) and give the Loggers a 6-5 win. Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) collected the win, allowing two runs on five hits in four innings pitched.
In the first seven inning game, the Loggers struck first when Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) grounded out to third base, allowing Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) to score and give UPS the 1-0 lead. The Bruins plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. In the top of the sixth, Olsen led off the inning with a solo home run to right field but it wasn't enough as George Fox took the 4-2 win.
In the final game of the series, the Loggers struck first once again when Olsen again homered to right field to take a 1-0 lead. After George Fox added two runs in the bottom of the first, the Loggers exploded for four runs in the top of the third to take a 5-0 lead. After a single Bruin run in the bottom of the fourth, the Loggers used an RBI single by Newland to score Shaun Kiriu (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) and give Puget Sound the 6-3 victory.
Kiriu also picked up the win on the mound, allowing three runs, just one earned, on nine hits in four innings pitched. Gustafson, who already had a win on the day, earned his fourth save of the season, allowing just one hit in one scoreless inning pitched.
Statistically Speaking
Michael Olsen continues to put up All-Conference numbers. Olsen leads the league in hitting percentage (.402) and second in RBIs (43) and homeruns (14). Shaun Kiriu’s 14 two-baggers is enough for second in the league. Ryan Gustafsuon has tabbed four saves on the season, also second best in the league.
Scouting the Lutes
The Pacific Lutheran Lutes enter the final season series with a 22-12-2 overall mark and 19-9 in Northwest Conference play. They are winners of their last eight contests against the teams west of the mountains. Slugging freshman Ryan Aratani leads the Lutes by hitting .394. Aratani isn’t a flashy hitter. As the five-man in the line-up, 40 of his 50 hits are singles, plating 23 runs. Jordan Post, junior first baseman, is hitting .389 with six homeruns and 31 RBIs. From the hill, sophomore right-hander Robert Bleecker is 5-0 in nine appearances. He has a 2.65 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched. Trey Watts, also a sophomore righty, is a handful from the mound. He is 5-1 in 11 appearances. Watts has a 2.89 ERA and leads the team in strikeouts with 52 while only issuing nine walks.
Head Coach Brian Billings
Brian Billings is concluding his sixth season as skipper of the Loggers. A 1999 graduate of Puget Sound, Billings picked up his 100th coaching victory this season at the hands of the Lewis & Clark Pioneers. Billings has led the Loggers to a 104-116-1 as during his tenure.
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