Box Score CLAREMONT, California – The Puget Sound baseball team scored seven runs in the final two innings as the Loggers rallied for an opening-day win at Pomona-Pitzer, 9-4, on Friday afternoon.
With Puget Sound (1-0) trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, Nick Funyak (1-for-4) and Nathan Backes (2-for-5, R, RBI) hit consecutive one-out singles. James Dejesus came in to pinch-run for Funyak as Layne Croney (2-for-2, R) stepped into the box to pinch-hit. Croney ripped a line-drive single to center, and the ball skipped past the Sagehens' centerfielder and reached the wall. All three runners scored on the error, giving the Loggers a 5-3 lead.
Pomona-Pitzer (0-1) added a run in the bottom of the frame, but Puget Sound got plenty of insurance in the top of the ninth. Cal Muramaru (4-for-4, 2R), Connor Savage (3-for-5, 2R, 2B), and Nickolas Alarcio (3-for-5, 2R) loaded the bases with consecutive singles, and Zerio's double plated two runs. Alex Sierra's (0-for-0, RBI) sac fly later in the inning scored Alarcio, and Backes singled home Zerio for the fourth run of the ninth.
Kian Kurokawa, who tied a program record with six saves in 2014, shut the door on the Sagehens with his first save of 2015. Javin Nohara earned the win after throwing one inning out of the bullpen for the Loggers.
First-year head coach Jeff Halstead wins his debut at the helm of the Loggers.
Puget Sound takes on Cal Lutheran in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the first game slated for 11 a.m.
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