Seattle University (3-17) at University of Nevada (12-11)
April 1-3 - Peccole Park - Reno, Nevada
Live Audio on GoSeattleU.com
THE BIGGEST LITTLE CITY: After spending two straight weekends at home, the Seattle University baseball team is back on the road, leaving Wednesday for an Easter weekend series against the University of Nevada. After this trip, the team will not board another plane or spend a night in a hotel room for 39 straight days thanks to 17 home games and road trips to Wenatchee (Washington State on April 13) and Husky Ballpark (Washington on May 4). All three victories for the Redhawks have come on the road in day games, and the team has three chances to add to that total.
THE WASHINGTON GAMES: After a 24-year layoff, the crosstown rivalry between Seattle University and the University of Washington returned to the baseball diamond with games on consecutive Tuesdays. On March 23 at Bannerwood Park, the Huskies picked up two big hits and held on for a 5-2 victory. Pierce Rankin hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and Troy Scott laced a two-out, two run double to left field in the eighth inning. The Redhawks outhit the Huskies, 9-6, led by two hits each from Cullen Hendrickson and Nate Roberts. Riley Tompkins drove in both SeattleU runs with sacrifice flies in the second and ninth innings. SeattleU starter Brandon Kizer set down eight Husky batters in a row after the Rankin home run before back-to-back walks in the sixth inning ended his night. This past Tuesday at Husky Ballpark, Washington controlled the first four innings and took a 6-0 lead, but SeattleU took advantage of some shaky relief work to come within one run before the Huskies held on for a 6-5 victory. Roberts drove in three runs, Doug Buser went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, and Josh Kalalau hit a home run to lead off the ninth inning. Redhawk relief pitchers Max Whieldon and Brian Shannon combined for five scoreless innings to keep SeattleU in the ballgame.
SCOUTING NEVADA: The Wolf Pack come into the weekend with a 12-11 record after taking two of three games from UC Irvine last weekend. Nevada was scheduled to play UNLV Tuesday, but the game was called off due to inclement conditions. As a team, the Wolf Pack has compiled a .294 batting average, a 5.60 earned run average, and a .964 fielding percentage. Brock Stassi leads the team with a .441 batting average, four triples, four home runs, an .809 slugging percentage, 15 walks, and a .578 on-base percentage. Shaun Kort is batting .366 and has driven in a team-high 25 runs. Westley Moss, a .340 hitter entering the weekend, leads the Wolf Pack with 33 hits and 12 stolen bases. Saturday starter Chris Garcia is 2-1 with a 2.31 earned run average, while Jeremy Cole will be making his second start of the season Sunday, coming into the game with a 2-0 record, a 2.57 earned run average, and two saves.
SERIES HISTORY: These will be the first games all-time between Seattle University and the University of Nevada.
WEATHER FORECAST: According to The Weather Channel, Thursday will be partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid-40s. Friday will be cloudy with temperatures in the low 50s, with the wind picking up to about 20 mph. The series finale on Saturday will see similar weather, temperatures in the low 50s with cloudy skies and breezy conditions.
SCHEDULE CHANGES: The schedule for the Seattle University baseball team changes about as fast as the weather. The start times for Thursday and Friday in this series at Nevada were moved up from 6 p.m. to 2 p.m. in anticipation of cold nighttime weather in Reno. Next Tuesday's game against the University of British Columbia was originally scheduled as an exhibition game, but now it will count in the team and individual records and statistics. SeattleU will make up the game against Pacific Lutheran originally scheduled for March 25 on Thursday, April 8, beginning at 4 p.m. at Bannerwood Park. The Redhawks have added another home game for Friday, April 9, as Concordia University of Oregon has agreed to travel north for a single game beginning at 4 p.m. That game helps take the place of a three-game series against Alabama A&M that was scheduled for April 9-11 before Alabama A&M cancelled.
BROADCASTING LIVE: Dan Giuliani will broadcast all home games and selected road contests on GoSeattleU.com, with a pregame show commencing about 15-20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. SeattleU director of baseball operations Drew Samuelson will join Giuliani on most broadcasts. Giuliani is with the team in Reno and will broadcast all three games from Peccole Park live on the SeattleU athletics website.