WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Loggers sweep Whitman to cap their doubleheader, finishing their road trip with a 3-1 record. 

How it Happened
Game 1
The first game of the day was the final game of the Loggers' Northwest Conference series against the Blues, as the Loggers headed into a must-win rubber match early on in conference play.  Cal Johnson got the start on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings to start the game. The Loggers' offense also struggled to get going, as each team left a couple of runners on base. 

Puget Sound broke the ice in the top of the fourth inning, though, as Kellen Krebs, Armand Lettiere, and Ryan Spero all singled to load the bases. Cooper Allen provided the clutch hit with one out, moving the traffic around the pads to score a run. Preston Crockett followed suit with a sac fly, and a Jonah Velasco single brought home another run. The Loggers finished the top of the fourth up 3-0, getting a much-needed early lead over the Blues. 

Whitman struck back in the bottom of the fourth, hitting a two-run home run to pull within one. After a scoreless fifth, the Loggers struck again in the top of the sixth inning. Allen added another RBI to his total, scoring Spero with a sac fly after Spero singled to lead off the inning. Lettiere doubled to advance the runner to third, which set Allen up with no outs recorded. Crockett then made it to first after a dropped third strike, with Lettiere taking advantage and running home. 

With a 5-2 advantage, the Loggers weren't done yet. They piled on three more runs in the top of the seventh, putting the game out of reach. After Charlie Deggeller singled and Matt Churchill doubled, Deggeller was able to score off a wild pitch. Churchill scored moments later, as Spero brought him home thanks to a sac fly. Allen added his third RBI of the day with a second sac fly, making 8-2 Puget Sound. 

The Blues made an attempt at a comeback, putting up two runs in the bottom of the eighth and another two in the bottom of the ninth. A final groundout ended the game, as the Loggers took a 2-1 conference series against the Blues. 

Game 2
The Loggers' starters took a rest in game four of their series against Whitman, paving the way for the rest of the team to step into their roles. And that they did. 

Isaac Fendel reached first on an error by the Blues' shortstop to begin the game, stealing second to put a runner in scoring position with no outs. Ryan Tobler and Lucas Brennan then walked, and a Jim O'Brien fielder's choice sent Fendel home. Jonny Howton reached the same outcome as O'Brien, sending Tobler home to make it 2-0 early. 

The Loggers poured on the runs in the top of the second inning, sending four more runs around the basepads. Cadence Ueyama was bit by a pitch, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch to start the inning. Luke Farmer and Fendel then walked, loading the bases for Tobler. He took advantage, flying out to right field to send Ueyama home via a sac fly. Brennan walked for the second time in two innings, loading the bases yet again. O'Brien came in clutch yet again, hitting a single to send two runs home. A Whitman balk scored another run, making it 6-0 early. 

The Blues tacked on two runs in the next two innings to pull the game back, but the Loggers put the game away in the top of the fourth. Fendel was hit by a pitch to get on base, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Tobler then walked, as Fendel stole third, scoring on a throwing error by the Blue's catcher. After O'Brien walked to put runners on first and second, Howton hit a home run to deep left field to send three home.

The Loggers remained up 10-2 through the top of the fifth inning, but the Blues hit a three-run home run of their own to cut the lead to five. Puget Sound tacked on their final two runs of the afternoon in the top of the sixth inning, as a Travis Ujimori single sent two home after the Loggers loaded the bases yet again. They cruised to the finish line, taking down the Blues 12-5. 

What Happens Next
The Loggers take next weekend off before heading home to face the Lewis & Clark River Otters on Saturday, March 28th. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00, with the second game of the doubleheader following 30 minutes after the end of the first game.