NEWBERG, Ore. -- The Loggers get two big wins over the Bruins, making it a Good Friday to remember for Puget Sound.
How it Happened
Game 1
Charlie Decker got the win on the mound in game one for the Loggers, picking up a much-needed victory after a tough 1-2 series against Lewis & Clark. Decker pitched an absolute gem in his best outing for the Loggers this season, going 7.1 innings, and only allowing three hits, one run, and striking out six Bruin batters. He didn't give up a run until the eighth inning, and had a no-hitter going through a full six innings.
The offense was able to give Decker some support early, as
Charlie Deggeller got on base early with a single to lead off the game. A solo home run in the top of the second inning by
Armand Lettiere gave the Loggers an early 1-0 lead, as
Preston Crockett and
Brock Makishima both singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. The Loggers were unable to capitalize, but were able to build some positive momentum.
Jim O'Brien and
Cooper Allen both singled to lead off the top of the fourth inning, putting runners on first and second base with no outs. A Lettiere bunt moved the runners over, and a Makishima single brought home the early baserunners. The Loggers took a 3-1 lead over the Bruins after four, as Decker went 1-2-3 for the third straight inning in the bottom of the fourth.
Both pitching staffs went to work, as it stayed a 3-1 ball game for quite some time. Two hit by pitches in the top of the seventh inning put base runners aboard for the Loggers, but they couldn't quite capitalize. They did in the eighth, though as an Allen single got a runner on with one out.
Armand Lettiere doubled to right to send Cadence ueyama to third, and a Crockett single sent Ueyama home.
The Bruins got a run back in the top of the eighth, but
Harley Eschliman came in to save the day. He struck out two of the three he faced, sending the game into the ninth. Deggeller walked to lead off the inning, advancing to second on a wild pitch. A
Matt Churchill single brought Deggeller home, making it 5-1. Three more strikeouts by Eschliman gave the Loggers the 5-1 win in game one, as the pitching staff controlled the game from start to finish.
Game 2
The Bruins were the first to strike in game two, as the teams went back-and-forth in a wild game. Two runs in the home first by the Bruins put the Loggers down early, and despite loading the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch in the second, they couldn't find a way to get a run across the board.
Puget Sound was able to pile on the runs in the top of the third, though, as
Charlie Deggeller led off the inning with a solo blast to right field. Singles by
Kellen Krebs and
Ryan Spero put runners on first and second shortly after, with a
Matt Churchill walk loading the bases. Allen was able to get the tying run across after reaching on an error by the Bruins' first baseman, keeping the bases juiced for Lettiere. The Junior's bat stayed hot, as he singled to left to bring home two more Loggers. A bunt single by
Jonah Velasco scored one more, making it 5-2 after the top of the third.
The Bruins brought one run home in the bottom of the third, and three more in the bottom of the fourth to pull back ahead by one. The Loggers responded immediately, though, as walks by Allen and Velasco put runners on first and second for Crockett. He capitalized by hitting a home run to deep left field, giving the Loggers an 8-6 lead.
It stayed that way, as the pitchers battled it out, with the Loggers escaping a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth. The Bruins tied it up in th ninth, scoring two runs to push the game to the top of the 10th inning.
In the 10th, Churchill only needed four pitches to put the Loggers on top, hitting a solo home run to left center to put the Loggers on top. Allen followed that up with a single, and the Loggers loaded the bases thanks to an error by the Bruins' defense. Deggeller added an insurance run with a single to left, making it 10-8 Loggers.
Zach Robman went 1-2-3 to close out the 10th, getting a much needed win for the Senior reliever.
The Loggers take the Friday sweep, 5-1 and 10-8 (10 inn.).
What Happens Next
The Loggers close out their series against the Bruins tomorrow, April 4th, at 12:00 pm.
