ROAD TRIP TO UTAH: The Seattle University baseball team leaves Wednesday morning for Utah, first for a single game against Utah Valley University in Orem, followed by a three-game series against BYU in Provo. Starting with Wednesday's game, the Redhawks will play their final 14 contests in the span of just 18 days. Seattle U enjoyed success over both squads last season, winning three of four games, but all four contests were extremely close, including two extra-inning affairs, one decided in the bottom of the ninth, and the other one not fully settled until the final out in the top of the ninth. The Redhawks are still looking for that elusive first road series victory, and the three-game set at BYU is the next-to-last chance to accomplish that feat in 2011.
THE NEW MEXICO STATE SERIES: The Aggies rolled into town last weekend and took three of four games from the Redhawks at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue. A three-run home run by Ryan Aguayo in the first inning of the first game of the series Thursday seemingly set the tone for the weekend, as New Mexico State took a 6-0 lead and cruised to the 7-4 victory to open the series. The top five hitters in the Aggie batting order went 9-for-18 and were responsible for all seven runs. Cullen Hendrickson had a two-run double in the sixth inning to bring Seattle U to within two, but that would be as close as the Redhawks would get. In the first game of Friday's doubleheader, New Mexico State scored in six of the seven innings on its way to a 10-2 victory. Josh Kalalau answered an Aggie run in the top of the first with a home run in the bottom of the first, but an RBI double by Wesley Starkes in the second inning and a two-run home run from Parker Hipp in the third broke the game open for New Mexico State. A wild play off a Marcelino Morales bunt that led to three runs highlighted the second inning of the second game of the doubleheader. Doug Kincaid also hit a home run, and Arlo Evasick pitched 6 1/3 innings of solid baseball, with Bryan Dalton coming in and contributing 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for help Seattle U split the doubleheader with a 5-1 win. Three runs in the second inning and five runs in the fourth inning allowed New Mexico State to go ahead, 8-0, on its way to an 8-3 victory in the series finale Saturday morning. Matt Comer hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Cory Mack produced 2 1/3 innings of three-hit relief in the loss.
THIS WEEK'S PROBABLE MATCHUPS
Wednesday, May 4 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #23 RHP Brandon Kizer - 5-4, 4.72 ERA, 55.1 IP, 50 H, 29 ER, 13 BB, 34 SO
Utah Valley: #30 RHP Blake Krahenbuhl - 4-2, 3.40 ERA, 53.0 IP, 48 H, 20 ER, 24 BB, 37 SO
Thursday, May 5 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #30 RHP Seafth Howe - 4-4, 2.95 ERA, 55.0 IP, 42 H, 18 ER, 13 BB, 23 SO
BYU: #8 RHP Taylor Cole - 3-4, 3.41 ERA, 66.0 IP, 60 H, 25 ER, 28 BB, 44 SO
Friday, May 6 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #32 RHP Arlo Evasick - 2-3, 5.24 ERA, 34.1 IP, 35 H, 20 ER, 17 BB, 18 SO
BYU: #15 RHP Chris Capper - 3-3, 3.72 ERA, 67.2 IP, 70 H, 28 ER, 15 BB, 58 SO
Saturday, May 7 - 1:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #7 RHP Evan Ewing - 2-0, 2.89 ERA, 18.2 IP, 19 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO
BYU: TBA
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: The Wolverines come into Wednesday night's game with a 19-19 overall record after sweeping a four-game conference series from NYIT over the weekend. This will be the last of 11 straight home games for the Wolverines, who are 9-4 at Brent Brown Ballpark. As a team, Utah Valley has compiled a .296 batting average, a .973 fielding percentage, and a 5.34 earned run average. Chris Benson is the team's leading hitter, batting .399 with 69 hits, 44 runs scored, 17 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 35 runs batted in, and nine stolen bases. Austin Heaps leads the team with 18 doubles, while Cole McWhorter is a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts. Wednesday's starting pitcher, Blake Krahenbuhl, will be making his 11th start of the season, last pitching Friday and earning the victory after six innings of work against NYIT. Ryan Chadwick leads the team with 15 relief appearances, while Josh Swenson has collected three saves so far this season.
LAST SEASON: Seattle University and Utah Valley met for a highly-competitive two-game midweek series May 11 and 12, 2010, at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue. On May 11, Seattle U scored five runs in the eighth inning and held on for an 11-9 victory. Josh Kalalau's two-run single and Bryndon Ecklund's RBI single capped off the comeback. Eric Yardley earned the victory and Bryan Dalton picked up the save. The next day's contest turned into a pitcher's duel, as Seattle U starter Max Whieldon went nine innings, giving up only six hits and one run while striking out five batters. A sacrifice fly by Nick Latta scored Kalalau in the second inning, but that would be it for the Redhawk offense, held to just five hits by three Wolverine pitchers. Utah Valley scored a run in the seventh to tie the game, and an RBI double by Goose Kallunki in the 12th inning proved to be the game-winning tally.
SCOUTING BYU: The Cougars currently hold a 20-21 record as they play the second of two games against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., Tuesday night. BYU is currently 7-5 at Larry Miller Field. As a team, the Cougars have compiled a .264 batting average, a .954 fielding percentage, and a 3.91 earned run average. Ryan Bernal leads the team with a .340 batting average, 48 hits, 29 runs scored, a .567 slugging percentage, and a .443 on-base percentage. Among his hits are 12 doubles, four triples, and four home runs. Jaycob Brugman is batting .324 with 12 doubles, five triples, three home runs, and 29 runs batted in. Austin Hall and Andrew Law are tied for the team lead with 15 stolen bases apiece, while Alex Wolfe leads the way with five home runs. On the mound, Kolton Mahoney is the team's leading reliever with a 3-1 record, a 2.55 ERA, and two saves in 14 relief appearances.
LAST SEASON: Seattle U won two one-run games over BYU at Bannerwood Park April 29-30. The combined pitching effort of Brandon Kizer, Max Whieldon, Joey Pulitano, and Bryan Dalton held BYU to just 11 hits and two runs in 16 innings. Three walks in the bottom of the 16th inning loaded the bases, and a Mike Malland single drove in Nate Roberts to finally end the contest. The next day, the Redhawks once again won in walkoff fashion, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for an 8-7 victory. A Cougar error and two walks loaded the bases, and a single by Josh Kutz scored the first run of the inning. Phil Parrish, who had come in to pitch in the top of the ninth, tied the game with a two-run single, and Doug Buser drove in the winning run with a single down the left field line.
MILITARY NIGHT: The Seattle University baseball program has designated Tuesday, May 10, as Military Night for its game against the Oregon Ducks at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Military personnel with a vaild ID will receive free admission to the game at the renovated Cheney Stadium. Also, the Redhawks will be wearing special uniform tops in honor of the men and women who serve their country in the military.