Loggers Win 9-2 in First Game against Bearcats; Twinbill Set for Sunday

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

TACOMA, WASH. -- University of Puget Sound scored three runs in the third inning and added four in the fifth to build a 7-1 lead, as the Loggers defeated Willamette University, 9-2, on Saturday, March 14 in the first game of a three-game Northwest Conference series. The game started four hours later than scheduled due to the weather.

The second game in the series was postponed until Sunday, March 15, when the teams will play a doubleheader at Logger Field starting at 11 a.m. (PST).

Puget Sound upped its record to 10-7 on the season, including 8-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 13-4 overall and to 6-4 in the NWC.

The Bearcats got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the third. Troy Conway (Fr., 2B, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) started the inning with a single to left, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rolenn Himuro (Sr., OF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School). Conway reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a infield hit to second by Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B/SS, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS).

UPS answered with three runs on three hits and two errors in the bottom of the third. Cal Muramaru doubled to begin the stanza. He scored when Connor Savage reached base on an error. A sacrifice bunt put Savage on second, and he scored when Chris Zerio followed with a single.

Nathan Backes reached on a fielder's choice as Zerio was thrown out at second. Backes scored two batters later on a single up the middle by Bobby Hosmer.

The Loggers tacked on four runs in the fifth inning. Nic Alarcio walked and Zerio singled to open the inning. Alarcio scored on a single by Backes. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Zerio reached home on a single by Hosmer. Backes scored when John Hosmer hit into a double play. Layne Corney scored the fourth run on a single by Troy Kakugawa.

Puget Sound increased its lead to 9-1 during its next at bat. Backes drove in one run with a sacrifice fly to center field, while Bobby Hosmer brought home the second run with a single to left. The runs were scored by Savage and Alarcio.

Willamette registered its second run in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Devin Bales (Sr., OF, Graham, WA/Graham-Kapowsin HS/Grays Harbor College) was hit by a pitch and Aaron Fong (Fr., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) walked. Conway singled up the middle to send Bales across the plate and advance Fong to second. Himuro flied out to center field to end the game.

Starting pitcher Merle Rowan-Kennedy earned the win for Puget Sound, as he improved to 4-1 on the season. He threw seven innings and recorded three strikeouts, while allowing seven hits and one run. Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) fell to 2-2 with the loss for Willamette.

Bobby Hosmer went 3 for 4 and earned three RBIs to lead the Loggers on offense. Zerio finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Backes scored two runs and provided two RBIs. Alarcio and Savage also contributed two runs apiece.

Conway, Gallant and Brad Breier (Sr., C, Torrance, CA/South HS) each went 2 for 4 at the plate for Willamette. Conway scored a run and supplied one RBI. Gallant also drove in a run.