LOGGERS TOPPLE LUTES LATE RALLY
By: Jermaine Williams (UPS Athletics)
TACOMA, Wash. – The Puget Sound Loggers and Pacific Lutheran Lutes split the opening games of a four game Northwest Conference set 8-3 and an 18-16 rally late into the evening at Logger Field on Saturday.
The Lutes (23-12-2, 20-10 NWC) came out quick, plating a run in the first frame. Puget Sound (18-19, 14-16 NWC) answered in the second when Sean Bayha (Arlington, Wash.) reached base via a base-on-balls. Bayha would then score on error by pitcher Robert Bleeker. PLU would go on the pick up five runs in the next two innings, pulling away from the Loggers. Travis Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) began the Logger rally in the seventh with a lead-off double into right field. Shaun Kiru (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou) followed that up with an RBI triple into left. Kiriu would score while the Lutes attempted to pick off Dakota Resnik (Bellevue, Wash./Newport). That would conclude the Logger rally. The Lutes would win game one 8-3.
Logger Senior Tom Glassman (Tacoma, Wash./Biola) ended his collegiate career today in a loss. Glassman (1-7) threw 8.2 innings, giving up eight runs while striking out five. Bleeker improved to 6-0 for PLU in his final outing of the season, pitching seven innings.
Game two began at 3:45 pm and would last for a while. PLU began the marathon in the first with a pair of runs. The Loggers would follow that up with four in the bottom half of the frame. Following a walk by Resnik, Jarvis Nohara (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) and Michael Olsen (Niwot, Colo.) took their spots on the bases. Olsen’s hit scored Resnick. Gregorio Beck (Chico, Calif.) would be hit by pitcher Paul DiPietro setting up Joe Newland (Tulalip, Wash./Marysville-Pilchuck). Newland sent a screaming single into centerfield, plating both Nohara and Olsen. An error later in the inning would plate Beck, giving the Loggers a 4-2 lead.
Pacific Lutheran took a 7-2 lead after plating five in the second. In the bottom of the third, the Loggers would begin to pull away by scoring six runs on six hits. Doug Cox (Kailua, Hawaii/Kalaheo) opened the inning by legging out a shot to the shortstop. Bayha’s double to left center gave Hernandez the opportunity to hit a RBI single. Nohara would later come up and hit a two-RBI single, plating both Bayha and Hernandez. Olsen perfectly laid down the bunt and legging it out to reach base. Newland, who was earlier thrown out for trying to stretch a single into a double, left no doubt when he hit a two-RBI, stand up double to the centerfield fence, giving the Loggers a 11-7 lead after three.
The Loggers added to their lead with a three spot in both the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by Beck’s sixth homerun of the season. Puget Sound had an 18-8 lead heading into the final frame.
The Lutes of Pacific Lutheran never gave up hope. They would plate eight runs on seven hits and two Logger walks to cut the lead to two. However, Ryan Gustafson (Bellevue, Wash./Sammamish) came in and picked up his fifth save of the season, securing the 18-16 Logger victory. This game concluded as darkness sat in, eclipsing the four hour mark, and ending at 7:48 pm.
Dusty Kauflin (Boulder, Colo.) was the Logger starter. In the no decision, Kauflin allowed seven runs on six hits. Tim Fogarty (Pacifica, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral) picked up his second win on the season, going 5.1 innings. He allowed eight hits and struck out three. Bret Handy (2-3) picks up the loss for the Lutes.
The Lutes and Loggers will conclude the series and their seasons tomorrow at Logger Field beginning at 12:00 noon. Tomorrow’s games are scheduled for two-seven inning games.
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