Baseball Drops a Pair of One-Run Games at Puget Sound, 7-6 and 5-4

Tacoma, Wash. - It was a day of lead changes and big two-out hits in the doubleheader between Willamette and Puget Sound, but in the end the Loggers came away with a pair of one-run victories, defeating the Bearcats 7-6 and 5-4.  Preston Lau had three hits and three runs batted in during game one and Rocco Granucci had four hits for Willamette in game two.

The Bearcats struck first in game one when Preston Lau singled home Drew Basking with two outs.  Baskin had walked and moved to second on a single by Nate Hamburger after the first two batters had struck out to start the inning.

The Loggers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Willamette tied it up in the next half inning when Tassos Foster drew a bases-loaded walk.  Puget Sound took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth and began a series of lead changes that lasted through the seventh.

Lau had another big two-out hit in the sixth, this time bringing home Trevor Sostman and Joshua Murphy, who had both walked to lead off the inning.  That hit put the Bearcats back in the lead 4-3.  The Loggers then responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to three consecutive doubles and an RBI single to pull back ahead 6-4.

In the seventh, Willamette loaded the bases for the third straight inning and tied the score one more time as Granucci and Foster came home on an error.  In the bottom of the inning, again with two outs, Puget Sound took the lead back for the final time on a solo home run.  The Bearcats were able to put two runners on base in each of the final two innings, but this time they were unable to come up with the two-out hit necessary to score the tying run.

Game two got off to a good start for the Loggers, who took advantage of two early walks when Matt Churchill hit a three-run home run to put UPS ahead 3-0 after one inning.  Willamette was able to get a run back in the fourth when Joshua Murphy drew a bases-loaded walk, but Puget Sound responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to maintain their three-run lead.

The Bearcats threatened again in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with only one out, but Willamette could not bring the runners home.  They did break through in the eighth when Luke Piazza hit his second home run in the series to lead off the inning to cut the lead to 4-2.  After a Tassos Foster single, Granucci registered his fourth hit of the game on a home run to tie the game at 4-4.

After Willamette again stranded runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth, the Loggers loaded the bases with one out and brought home the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

Baseball will play its final home series of the year on Friday, April 25th, and Saturday, April 26th, when they host Lewis & Clark College at Volcanoes Stadium.  Before Saturday's game, there will be a celebration of the twelve members of the team who will be playing their final home game for the Bearcats.