BECK'S BLAST SINKS LUTES
By: Jermaine Williams (UPS Athletics)
TACOMA, Wash. – In the final two games of the season, the Puget Sound Loggers and Pacific Lutheran Lutes split the series 9-8, off a Gregorio Beck walk-off home run, and 5-11 in a Northwest Conference match on Sunday.
The Lutes (24-14-2, 21-11 NWC) again opened the game with a pair of runs. However, that lead would quickly diminished in the bottom of the frame as Shaun Kiriu (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) ripped an RBI single into center and Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.) followed suit with a two-RBI single to left. They plated Doug Cox (Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo), Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo), and Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) who reached on a fielder’s choice and two walks, respectively.
As the Loggers saw yesterday, Lutes would fire back in the third, plating three runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Loggers would rally again to take an 8-5 lead following a six Logger hits, capped by Joe Newland’s (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck) two-RBI double to the right field fence.
Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) came in to close out the game in the fifth inning. He allowed a run in the fifth and then in the top of the seventh, Matt Akridge would hit a two-RBI single, tying the game at eight. It appeared we were going to play an extra frame until Beck stepped to the plate and blasted a walk-off home run just over the left field fence, winning the game for the Loggers 9-8.
Gustafson would pick up the win, improving to 6-2. In three inning of work, he allowed three runs and struck out one. Lute pitcher Jeremy Ellison drew the loss.
Senior Kiriu would pitch the final game of the season. As the skies opened up, the game was a defensive battle. Only the Lutes would plate a run in the first four innings. In the fifth, Pacific Lutheran tacked on four runs. The Loggers would answer beginning with a leadoff homerun by Kiriu. Small ball plated Jason Powell (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) later in the inning off a RBI single by Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport).
The Lutes would again put up four in the sixth and the Loggers followed with a two spot. Newland would score Olsen off a double down the left field chalk line. Kiriu would also score off Bayha’s quick feet, legging out a slow-roller to the second baseman. Loggers trailed 9-4 heading into the seventh.
Senior Trevor Pease (Cusick, Wash./Menlo College) would come in late in the seventh to make his final appearance of his career and left to a standing ovation by the crowd. Pacific Lutheran would add two more in the seventh. Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) would reach base on a double to center and would score via a Beck sac fly, but that would end the scoring and the Loggers season, as the Loggers fell 11-5.
Trey Watt (1-0) picked up his first victory of the season for the Lutes, throwing a complete game, allowing five runs on nine hits. Kiriu (1-2) picked up the loss in 5.1 innings of work.
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