HOME SWEET HOME: The Seattle University baseball team begins a stretch in which 17 of the next 19 games are at home, beginning with three games this week. Although all of the games are against non-Division I schools, they will not be easy, as British Columbia is one of the best NAIA teams, Pacific Lutheran has been dominating its competition in the Division III Northwest Conference, and Concordia has been competitive against many teams it has faced this season. SeattleU is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak as well as a six-game home losing streak as it continues its first season of intercollegiate competition since 1986.
THE NEVADA SERIES: Seattle University had its chances, especially in two of the three games, but Nevada was able to pull off the weekend sweep last Friday and Saturday. Thursday's game was postponed due to snow, forcing the two teams to play a doubleheader Friday afternoon. In Friday's first game, Nevada jumped out to a 9-0 lead thanks in part to three home runs. SeattleU came back, taking advantage of a strong tailwind towards left field with home runs by Josh Kutz, Doug Buser, and Riley Tompkins. After another Wolf Pack home run gave Nevada a 12-5 lead, the Redhawks fought back again, as Sean Narby drove in five runs to bring SeattleU within two at 12-10, but that would be as close as the visitors would get. Nevada's offense kept going in the second game, taking an 8-0 lead before SeattleU put a run on the board. There would be no comeback, as the Wolf Pack cruised to a 17-3 victory. In Saturday's series finale, after Nevada scored the first two runs of the game, SeattleU came back, with a two-run double by Buser pulling the Redhawks ahead, 4-2. Nevada would tie the game in the sixth inning and then earn the victory with a single in the bottom of the ninth.
NATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETE DAY: Seattle University will be joining with the rest of the NCAA-member institutions in honoring student-athletes on National Student-Athlete Day during the April 6 game against British Columbia. Ben Guthrie, a member of the swim team and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is expected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Cross country and track & field athlete Graham Miller, the president of the student athletic support group RedZone, will lead the crowd in singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. Those student-athletes with grade point averages at 3.0 or above will be recognized both in the gameday program and during the game.
CONNECTIONS: Seattle University assistant coach Fletcher Vynne graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008. During his collegiate playing career, Vynne helped the University of British Columbia reach its first-ever NAIA World Series in 2006. He was a four-time All-Academic Award winner at UBC and twice won the Jeff Francis Award (2007 and 2008). He was second on the team in batting average during his junior year and led in home runs in his senior season, when he served as team captain.
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.
SCOUTING BRITISH COLUMBIA: The Thunderbirds enter Tuesday's game with a 25-6 record after sweeping Corban College in a four-game series over the weekend by a combined score of 38-4. British Columbia is on a five-game winning streak, starting with a 9-5 victory over Washington State. As a team, the Thunderbirds have a .328 batting average, a 3.50 earned run average, and a .980 fielding percentage with just 22 errors in 31 games. Andrew Firth leads the team with a .387 batting average, while Nic Lendvoy has a .382 batting average, 47 hits, including 13 doubles, five home runs, 36 runs batted in, and a .626 slugging percentage. Sammie Starr is batting .361, has 10 doubles, and also leads the squad with 11 stolen bases. From the pitching mound, Eric Brown is 6-0 with a 2.61 earned run average, while Brandon Kaye is 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Shawn Hetherington and Taylor King each have four saves to lead the Thunderbirds.
SCOUTING PACIFIC LUTHERAN: The Lutes will come into Thursday's game with a 19-6 record after sweeping Whitman in a Northwest Conference series over the weekend. Pacific Lutheran has won eight of its last nine games, scoring at least 11 runs in each of those victories. As a team, the Lutes have a .376 batting average, a 4.15 earned run average, and a .968 fielding percentage with 31 errors in 25 games. Ryan Aratani leads the team with a .416 batting average and a .504 on-base percentage thanks to 15 walks. Dan Johansen is hitting .411 and leads the team with 46 hits, 34 runs scored, and 11 doubles, plus he has four home runs and 32 runs batted in. Brock Gates is batting .391 with a team-high .678 slugging percentage thanks to eight doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. Pitching-wise, Trey Watt is 6-0 with a 2.25 earned run average, while Scott Wall is 4-1 with a 3.25 earned run average.
SCOUTING CONCORDIA: The Cavaliers enter the week with a 6-16 record, with rain forcing the postponement of three of the last four scheduled dates. Concordia will face Corban College in a doubleheader Tuesday before making the trip north Friday. As a team, the Cavaliers have a .253 batting average, a 6.19 earned run average, and a .943 fielding percentage with 49 errors in 22 games. Sean Myrom leads the team with a .360 batting average, 27 hits, 14 runs scored, six home runs, and 22 runs batted in. On the mound, Zac Manor is 1-0 with two saves and a 2.12 earned run average, while Jarrod Castrejon is 1-0 with a 3.46 earned run average.
WEATHER FORECAST: According to The Weather Channel, Showers are expected for Tuesday with highs in the upper 40s and SSE winds at about 10 mph. On Thursday, once again showers are expected with highs in the upper 40s and WSW winds at about 10 mph. For Friday, showers tapering off, but temperatures to dip into the low 40s with the wind dying down.