Puget Sound Defeats Willamette, 3-2, Prevents Series Sweep by Bearcats
TACOMA, WASH. -- The University of Puget Sound scored two runs on three singles in the first inning, before managing just one hit the rest of the way, but the Loggers took advantage of their early lead to defeat Willamette University, 3-2, in a pitchers' duel on Sunday, April 29, preventing a sweep of the three-game series by the Bearcats.
Summers Finishes 3 for 4 with Two Doubles
TACOMA, WASH. -- The University of Puget Sound scored two runs on three singles in the first inning, before managing just one hit the rest of the way, but the Loggers took advantage of their early lead to defeat Willamette University, 3-2, in a pitchers' duel on Sunday, April 29, preventing a sweep of the three-game series by the Bearcats.
Both teams concluded the season. Willamette finished the year with a 14-23 overall record, including 9-15 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound ended its schedule with a 10-28-1 record, 6-18 in the NWC.
Willamette senior catcher Dylan Summers (Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) went 3 for 5 with two doubles in his final game for the Bearcats. He earned at least one hit in 19 of his last 20 games.
Summers hit .413 during those games, raising his season batting average to .340, as he finished second on the team behind Mitch Rowan (Jr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS). Rowan ended the year with a .342 average and also led the Bearcats with a .719 slugging percentage.
Lucas Stone of UPS, who pitched the first 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and eight hits, improved to 2-7. Three Puget Sound relievers combined to hold Willamette to no runs and one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings. Alex Baugh, who faced four batters in the top of the ninth, recorded a save.
Willamette starting pitcher Peter Hoffman (Fr., RHP, Hayden, ID/Lake City HS) pitched all eight innings for the Bearcats. With the exception of the first inning, he provided an exceptional performance. Over the final seven innings, he limited the Loggers to one single, two walks and an unearned run. He fell to 2-6 on the season.
Puget Sound began the game with a single up the middle by Casey Coberly. Connor Savage and Will Mentor both singled to right field to load the bases. Matt Cox was hit by a pitch, forcing Coberly across the plate. Hoffman caused Johnny Hosmer to hit into a 4-6-3 double play, with Savage scoring from third. Kaulana Smith flied out or right field to end the inning.
The Loggers' only other hit was six innings later, when Stephen Kelsey connected for a single to left field with two outs in the seventh.
UPS increased its lead to 3-0 without a hit in the third inning. Savage walked with one out. He stole second base, and then went to third when Summers committed an error on the throw. Mentor drove in Savage with a groundout to second base. Hoffman struck out Cox for the third out.
Hoffman amassed six strikeouts overall. He finished the season with 32 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched.
Willamette cut the lead to 3-1 in the fifth. Adam Reid (Sr., RF, San Jose, CA/Lynbrook HS) opened the stanza with a double toward the right field corner. Michael Oliver (Sr., 1B, Seattle, WA/West Seattle HS) moved Reid to third with a grounder to shortstop. Reid scored when Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) also grounded out to shortstop.
Tyson Giza (Jr., CF, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) kept Willamette on offense with a double to right center. Rowan flied out to Savage in right field, as the Loggers escaped without any further damage.
In WU's next at bat, the Bearcats pulled within 3-2. Summers, who blasted a double to right center to start the inning, was able to round third and go home when Hunter Gallant (Fr., 3B/2B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS) followed with a single to left center. Later, runners were at first and second with one out when Stone caused Reid to hit into a double play.
Willamette had at least one base runner in each of the last three innings, but couldn't push across the tying run.
The best chance to create a run occurred with two outs in the eighth inning when Gallant singled to right and Tosh Semlacher (So., 3B, Gold River, CA/Jesuit HS) received a walk as a pinch-hitter. Tanner Oates (Fr., 2B, Sparks, NV/Spanish Springs HS) hit the ball into right field, but Savage made the catch to end the inning.
In the ninth, Kawamura walked with two outs. Baugh struck out Giza to secure the win and earn the save.
The Bearcats outhit the Loggers 9-4 during the game. Willamette belted four doubles, while UPS did not have an extra-base hit.
Joining Summers with three hits for the Bearcats was Gallant, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Giza, Oates and Reid each contributed one hit for WU, while four Loggers registered one hit apiece for Puget Sound.
Dylan Summers went 3 for 4 with two doubles. He ended the season with at least one hit in 19 of his final 20 games.