HOMEWARD BOUND: After splitting four road games last week, Seattle University is set to return to Bannerwood Park for the first time since March 18 for four games against three Washington schools. The week starts Tuesday with the third of four games against the University of Washington. Thursday, Saint Martin's comes to town for a single game, followed by two games against in-state foe Central Washington Friday and Saturday. Dan Giuliani will broadcast all four games on GoSeattleU.com, with live stats available for at least three of the four games (Live stats for Saturday is unknown right now).
A FRUSTRATING WEEKEND: Although Seattle U did win its first-ever game against Nevada, the Redhawks left Reno knowing that all three games of the weekend series were winnable. Friday, Seattle U jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run home run from Doug Kincaid. Nevada took control by scoring seven runs in the first three innings for a 7-2 lead. The relief pitching of Evan Ewing and Conor Spink kept the Redhawks in the game, and the offense finally came through with five runs in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7. In the seventh, Sean Narby laced a double into the right-center field gap that scored Josh Kalalau. Ewing and Spink combined to pitch 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only two hits while striking out eight batters to help Seattle U earn the 8-7 victory. The offensive onslaught continued for the Redhawks Saturday, as they held a 10-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth. However, the Seattle U pitching had its issues, allowing eight walks and hitting six batters during the game. Those issues finally caught up to the Redhawks, as Nevada scored twice in the eighth and six times in the ninth inning, with a two-run walk-off home run by Garrett Yrigoyen completing the 11-10 comeback victory. Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel, as the Nevada combination of Brock Stassi and Jeremy Cole allowed only three hits by Seattle U. Seafth Howe was pitching his own gem, but one of the two hits he gave up was a two-run home run by Carlos Escobar in the bottom of the eighth inning that led to a 2-0 Wolf Pack victory. Trent Oleszczuk was the hitting star for Seattle U, reaching base 11 straight times to start the weekend and finishing the series 5-for-7 with six walks, four runs scored, two doubles, and two RBI.
THIS WEEK'S PROBABLE MATCHUPS
Tuesday, April 12 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #32 RHP Arlo Evasick - 0-2, 7.90 ERA, 13.2 IP, 14 H, 12 ER, 10 BB, 7 SO
Washington: #34 RHP Jeff Brigham - 2-0, 3.94 ERA, 29.2 IP, 31 H, 13 ER, 7 BB, 23 SO
Thursday, April 14 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #23 RHP Brandon Kizer - 4-2, 4.06 ERA, 37.2 IP, 36 H, 17 ER, 7 BB, 21 SO
Saint Martin's: TBA
Friday, April 15 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #29 RHP Eric Yardley - 0-0, 3.63 ERA, 17.1 IP, 15 H, 7 ER, 7 BB, 7 SO
Central Washington: #35 LHP Brandon Rohde - 1-4, 2.83 ERA, 54.0 IP, 57 H, 17 ER, 8 BB, 39 SO
Saturday, April 16 - 1:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #30 RHP Seafth Howe - 4-2, 2.00 ERA, 45.0 IP, 27 H, 10 ER, 10 BB, 16 SO
Central Washington: #28 LHP Ryan Hastings - 2-4, 5.54 ERA, 26.0 IP, 41 H, 16 ER, 6 BB, 10 SO
SCOUTING WASHINGTON: The Huskies come into Tuesday's game with a 9-20 overall record after winning two of three games over Oregon in Eugene this past weekend. As a team, Washington has posted a .233 batting average, a .975 fielding percentage, and a 4.84 earned run average. Jacob Lamb is the team's leading hitter, batting .315 with 35 hits, 10 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 15 runs batted in. Troy Scott leads the team with eight doubles, two stolen bases, and 12 walks, plus has driven in 14 runs. Zach Wright leads the pitching staff with a 3.24 ERA. Jeff Brigham has made a team-high 15 appearances, posting a 2-0 record with two saves and a 3.94 earned run average, striking out 23 batters in 29 2/3 innings of work.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: Seattle University has won both previous meetings over Washington so far this season, with both games taking place at Husky Ballpark. On March 8, Washington struck first with two runs in the first inning, but Doug Kincaid hit a bases-clearing double into right field to give the Redhawks a 3-2 lead. Seattle U would add an insurance run in the ninth inning thanks to an RBI single by Steve Kirbach. Conor Spink pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory, and Blaine Jones picked up the save. Last Tuesday, with the score tied at 1-1, Josh Kutz led off the seventh inning with a home run, and Seattle U scored two more times to open a 4-1 advantage. Washington came back with two runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to tie the game at 4-4 and send it into extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, Michael Tevlin drove in Kincaid with a single, and Matt Comer scored on a sacrifice fly by Cullen Hendrickson. After blowing the save in the ninth, Jones set down the Huskies in the 10th to earn the victory. In the two games, Jace Sloan is 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Spink has pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Huskies, giving up only one hit, one walk, and two unearned runs while striking out three batters.
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S: The Saints are 19-14 overall and lead the GNAC with a 15-3 record heading into their doubleheader Monday at Montana State-Billings. Saint Martin's has won eight of its last nine games after starting the season 1-8. As a team, the Saints have compiled a .260 batting average, a .959 fielding percentage, and a 4.02 earned run average. Andrew Elke leads the team with a .353 batting average and is perfect in 19 stolen base attempts. Aaron Johnson is batting .279 with 10 doubles, two home runs, 24 RBI, 27 walks (4 intentional walks), and 13 stolen bases. Tommy DeBoer is 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA, while Kaleb Wilson is 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA and eight saves.
SCOUTING CENTRAL WASHINGTON: The Wildcats come into the week with an 8-22 overall record, including a 3-17 record in the GNAC. Central Washington has lost 10 of its last 12 games heading into a doubleheader at Corban College Thursday. As a team, the Wildcats have compiled a .291 batting average, a .961 fielding percentage, and a 4.79 earned run average. Nate Wallen is batting .371, while Glen Reser is batting .339 with 38 hits, 16 runs scored, and 12 runs batted in. Kelly Gau leads the squad with seven stolen bases, while Derrick Webb has three home runs and 18 RBI. Brandon Rohde has compiled a 2.83 earned run average, striking out 39 opposing batters in 54 innings of work while walking only eight batters.
PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY: Last Tuesday's victory over Washington was Seattle University's 11th of the season, matching the squad's win total from the entire 2010 campaign. The improvement has been most apparent in the pitching and defense for the Redhawks. Last season, the team posted a .956 fielding percentage (84 errors in 50 games) and a 6.80 earned run average. So far this season, the fielding percentage has improved to .972 (28 errors in 26 games) and the earned run average has been cut down to 3.85. Another key for the Redhawks has been the ability to come back from adversity. Seattle U was just 2-27 when the opponent scored first. This season, the Redhawks are 7-9 when their opponents score the first run of the game. Last season Oregon led the NCAA for the biggest improvement from 2009 to 2010 with a 22-game positive swing.
WEATHER FORECAST: Tuesday's forecast calls for cloudy skies with temperatures starting in the 50s, but dropping into the high 40s. There is a 40% chance of showers Thursday with temperatures in the mid 40s, followed by a 30% chance of precipitation Friday with temperatures moving into the low 50s. The week is set to end Saturday with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 50s.
BEATING THE PAC-10: With last Tuesday's victory over Washington, Seattle U is now 3-1 against teams from the Pac-10 Conference. The Redhawks defeated Washington March 8 at Husky Ballpark, 4-2. Seattle U started its Spring Break road trip with a 5-4 victory over then-23rd ranked Oregon State in Corvallis March 22 before losing the second game of the midweek series the next night, 4-2. The Redhawks have four more games scheduled against Pac-10 schools. This Tuesday, Seattle U is scheduled to host Washington at Bannerwood Park, followed by the final game of the four-game set between the intracity rivals April 19 at Husky Ballpark. Seattle U will host Oregon at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma Tuesday, May 10, followed by a matinee at Bannerwood Park Wednesday, May 11.