TACOMA, Wash. -- The Loggers split with Whitworth to open up Northwest Conference play, dropping game one 10-2 before rallying back for a 7-4 victory over the Pirates.

How it Happened
Game 1:
Charlie Decker got the nod on the mound to start the game, opening the series as the starter. The Pirates struck first, hitting a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Decker got out of a jam in the top of the second inning as well, forcing a double play to keep it a 1-0 game. 

The Loggers struck back in the bottom of the second inning, as Ryan Spero and Kahiau Teruya got on base with infield singles. After a Preston Crockett walk, the bases were loaded for Jim O'Brien. Despite hitting into a double play, he sent across a run to tie the game at one apiece. 

Both teams were held scoreless in the third, and after Decker added another scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, the Loggers struck in the bottom of the inning. Kellen Krebs led off the fourth with a double to center, and Spero followed that up with a single to put runners on the corners. Spero then stole second, and a Teruya groundout sent Krebs home, making it 2-1 Loggers. The team then loaded the bases with a Whitworth error and an Isaac Fendel hit by pitch, but a flyout ended the inning. 

The Pirates struck back in the top of the fifth, as a solo home run tied the game up at two apiece. Decker struck out one, and Spero closed out the inning with a great catch in right field to keep the game tied. Puget Sound got some more base runners in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn't quite capitalize. Decker then got chased out of the sixth, letting in a run to make it 3-2 Pirates. Whitworth tacked on another three runs, and the Loggers couldn't respond, as Puget Sound found themselves down 6-2 after six. 

Harley Eischliman faced the minimum in the top of the seventh, bouncing back from a hit by pitch with an inning-ending double play. The Pirates struck again with three in the top of the eighth, and one in the top of the ninth. The Loggers were unable to get any more runs across the plate, as the Pirates take game one, 10-2. 

Game 2: 
Evan Moll got the Loggers rolling on the mound in the top of the first, going 1-2-3 with two strikeouts. After the Loggers faced a similar fate in the bottom of the inning, Charlie Deggeller then recorded all three outs in the top of the second, as Whitworth flew out to center three times in a row. 

The Loggers got some action on the basepads in the bottom of the second, as Teruya and Crocket both singled to open the inning. A Brock Makishima hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs, and Armand Lettiere came in clutch. A double deep to the centerfield fence brought all three Loggers home, giving the squad a 3-0 lead after two. 

The Pirates got their first hit of the day in the top of the third, and after a walk, the Pirates had runners on first and second with two outs. An impressive glove flip over to first by Krebs ended the inning, as Moll escaped with no runs. Spero then hit a moon ball to deep left center field, making it 4-0 Loggers. 

The Pirates attempted to come back in the fourth, putting runners on first and second. With two outs, Moll struck out Whitworth's Nate Gray Jr. to keep the Pirates scoreless, a huge momentum swing in the Loggers' way. The Loggers responded with putting runners on first and second in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't capitalize. 

Moll responded with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and Krebs led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. Preston Crocket stepped up to the plate, drilling a ball deep left center field, hitting off the top of the fence and back into play. He got all the way around the basepads, scoring on an inside-the-park home run. 

Braden Blackwell came in to pitch for the Loggers in the sixth, and the Pirates took advantage. They scored two runs to pull the lead back to four, closing in on the Loggers. Whitworth scored again in the top of the seventh, making it a 6-4 ball game. The Loggers weren't done yet, though, as Krebs hit a solo home run to deep to right-center field to give the Loggers an insurance run. 

Zach Robman came in to pitch with one out in the seventh, and had an efficient outing in the top of the eighth, recording a total of five outs in under 10 pitches. All three outs were hit out to Spero in right field, and a scoreless bottom of the eighth set Robman up for the save. He did just that, allowing no hits, no runs, and one strikeout to give the Loggers the victory. Puget Sound takes this one, 7-4. 

What Happens Next
The Loggers battle Whitworth tomorrow, March 1st, with the victor taking the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.