TACOMA, Wash. -- The Loggers split with cross-town rivals Pacific Lutheran in their final games of the season, winning game one 9-7 before dropping game two 8-5.
How it Happened
Game 1
The Loggers took the final game of their conference season, taking two of the three games to give the Loggers yet another series in conference play.
Cal Johnson got the start on the mound for the Loggers, pitching a great four innings to get the Log rolling. He only let up one run on two hits, striking out four along the way.
Mason Seay picked up his second win of the day, striking out three in an inning of work.
Zach Robman picked up his sixth save of the season, as the senior broke the career save record for the Loggers.
On the offensive side, the Loggers had themselves a day. After PLU scored in the first inning, the Loggers came back and put up five on the Lutes.
Kellen Krebs walked to lead off the inning, with
Ryan Spero and Prston Crockett picking up singles as well to load the bases.
Ryan Tobler drew a five-pitch walk, bringing home Krebs for the Loggers' first run of the day.
Ethan Nakamura hit a sacrifice fly, and then singles by
Charlie Deggeller and
Kahiau Teruya sent two more runners home. A sacrifice bunt by
Cooper Allen sent Deggeller home, making it 5-1 after two.
A pitcher's duel ensued, as the Loggers didn't score again until the top of the sixth inning. Allen added his second RBI of the day, scoring Deggeller again after he singled to right field. The Lutes tacked on four runs to make it a 6-5 ball game after six, but the Loggers weren't done yet.
Crocket laid down the second bunt that he legged out for a single in the seventh, using his speed to take him all the way around the bases on a two-out single by
Armand Lettiere. The final two runs of the day came thanks to two solo home runs in the top of the eighth, as both Teruya and
Matt Churchill hit solo shots out of the park to make it 9-5. Two Lute runs in the eighth made it a close game, but Robman went 1-2-3 in the ninth to end it.
The Loggers took game three of the series 9-7.
Game 2
In the final non-conference game of the season, the Loggers were able to get a number of seniors into the final game of their college careers. Six different pitchers saw an inning each, as the Loggers used their full roster against the Lutes.
Isaac Fendel got some action moving in the top of the first, leading things off with a single. He advanced on a passed ball to get into scoring position.
Jonah Velasco then walked, and an Allen flyout move Fendel to third. Despite the action, they were unable to get Fendel home, as the score stayed 0-0 after the top of the first.
The Lutes got things going quickly, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Logan Cindric closed out the inning with back-to-back quick strikeouts, getting his mojo back at the end.
Brock Makishima made it a 4-2 ball game in the top of the second, immediately helping the Loggers bounce back.
Lucas Brennan singled to open the inning, with Makishima tripling to right center to bring him and Tobler home.
Senior
Leyton Pfingston took care of the Lutes in the bottom of the second, closing out his senior year with a fantastic outing. The Lutes put up another run in the third, and two more in the fifth to make it a 7-2 ball game. After leaving two stranded in the top of the sixth, the Loggers let up another run to make it 8-2 after six.
In the final inning of the day, the Loggers nearly pulled off the comeback.
Ethan Higashionna reached first on a muffled throw by the first baseman, with Velasco and
Andy Moon singling to load the bases.
Jonny Howton brought Higashionna home with a sacrifice fly, and Tobler reached on an error to bring two more home. This made it 8-5, as the Loggers dropped game four of the series 8-5.
What Happens Next
The Loggers travel to Whitworth for the Northwest Conference Tournament on May 8th. Times and information are yet to be released, but will be available on the NWC website shortly.
