HOME SWEET HOME: After a road trip that got off to a promising start but ended on a disappointing note, Seattle University is back home for a seven-game homestand, beginning with a two-game midweek series against the University of Oregon. The first game of the series will take place at Cheney Stadium, the home of the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, the Tacoma Rainiers, beginning at 6 p.m. The remainder of the homestand will be back at Bellevue's Bannerwood Park. The Redhawks are looking to expand on their success against both the Pac-10 and the Big West this week, the next-to-last week of the 2011 season.
THE UTAH TRIP: Seattle University got off to a rousing start last Wednesday against Utah Valley with a 14-8 victory. The Redhawks banged out 18 hits, including seven extra-base hits, to pick up the victory over the Wolverines. Back-to-back doubles by Riley Tompkins and Bryndon Ecklund in the second inning gave Seattle U a 3-0 lead. After Utah Valley pulled ahead, 4-3, the Redhawks put together seven straight hits with two outs in the sixth inning to take control of the game, 8-4. The Wolverines scored twice in the seventh to pull within two at 8-6, but a run in the eighth and five more runs in the ninth gave the Redhawks a comfortable margin of victory. All 14 runs scored by Seattle U came with two outs. In Thursday's series opener at BYU, the Redhawks allowed a run in the first inning but took advantage of control problems by Cougar starter Chris Capper to tie the game in the second inning. After BYU retook the lead in the fourth inning, Seattle U scored twice in the seventh inning to go back on top, 3-2. However, the Cougars came back with a single run in the eighth inning to tie the game at 3-3. The game would remain tied until the 11th inning, when BYU's Stephen Wells launched a home run over the wall in right-center field to end the game in BYU's favor, 4-3. BYU hit four home runs Friday on its way to a 13-3 victory, followed by a 10-3 win Saturday that was close until the Redhawk bullpen gave up five runs in the eighth inning. Tompkins led the Redhawks offensively, batting .429 (6-for-14) with three runs scored, two walks, a double, and two RBI. Doug Kincaid went 7-for-18 (.389) with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run, four RBI, three walks, and two stolen bases. The Seattle U pitching staff struggled over the week, combining for an 8.41 ERA.
THIS WEEK'S PROBABLE MATCHUPS
Tuesday, May 10 - 6:00 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #55 RHP Max Whieldon - 0-4, 5.63 ERA, 46.1 IP, 51 H, 29 ER, 11 BB, 16 SO
Oregon: #21 LHP Christian Jones - 4-2, 3.73 ERA, 50.2 IP, 48 H, 21 ER, 21 BB, 55 SO
Wednesday, May 11 - 12:30 p.m. start:
Seattle U: #30 RHP Seafth Howe - 4-4, 2.95 ERA, 61.0 IP, 49 H, 20 ER, 15 BB, 26 SO
Oregon: TBA
Rotation for both teams in Seattle U-Pacific series to be announced later this week.
SCOUTING OREGON: The Ducks enter this midweek series with a 23-23 record after being swept by UCLA over the weekend, scoring only two runs in the entire three-game series. Oregon does hold victories over ranked opponents Arizona, California, and Oregon State. As a team, the Ducks have combined for a .236 batting average, a .975 fielding percentage, and a 2.82 earned run average. Danny Pulfer is the only regular player hitting over .300 for Oregon, currently batting .320 with 54 hits, including 11 doubles, and 24 runs scored. Aaron Jones is batting .270 with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 24 runs batted in. Jack Marder is hitting only .209 but leads the team with 10 stolen bases and 17 times being hit by a pitch. On the mound, Tyler Anderson is 6-2 with a 1.73 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings pitched. Kellen Moen has made 22 appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 1-4 record with a 1.44 ERA and seven saves, striking out 32 batters in 31 1/3 innings of work.
LAST SEASON: Seattle University and Oregon met in a four-game series March 12-14 at PK Park in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won the first game of the series, 5-0, behind the pitching of Tyler Anderson, who allowed just three hits in eight innings and struck out 11 Redhawks. Cullen Hendrickson went 3-for-5 in the second game of the series, but Oregon earned the 7-3 victory. In a seven-inning contest that was the second game of the Saturday doubleheader, Oregon scored early and cruised to a 4-0 win. Those three victories increased Oregon's all-time series winning streak to 12 games, but Seattle U would make history Sunday in a game televised by Comcast SportsNet Northwest. The Redhawks took the lead in the first inning when a Sean Narby triple drove in Josh Kalalau and Riley Tompkins followed with a two-run home run. An Oregon error and a Steve Kirbach sacrifice fly in the third inning increased Seattle U's lead to 5-1. The Ducks pulled to within one at 5-4, but Oregon's third error of the game allowed Seattle U to score an insurance run. Brian Shannon earned the victory after pitching seven innings, while Bryan Dalton earned the save with 1 1/3 innings of no-hit relief.
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.
SCOUTING PACIFIC: The Tigers enter the week with a 15-27 overall record after losing two of three games to UC Davis over the weekend. Pacific hosts Stanford Monday night and plays at San Jose State Tuesday afternoon before making the trek to Seattle for this weekend's contests. The Tigers hold victories over ranked opponents California, UC Irvine, and Cal State Fullerton. As a team, Pacific has compiled a .283 batting average, a .966 fielding percentage, and a 6.13 earned run average. Brian Martin leads the team with a .360 batting average, 59 hits, and 21 walks. Matthew Carvutto is batting .345 with 59 hits, including 17 doubles, and 27 runs batted in. Allen Riley has collected 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 31 runs batted in.
LAST SEASON: Seattle University traveled to Stockton, Calif., for a four-game series against Pacific March 4-7. A six-run first inning sent Pacific on its way to an 11-5 victory in the first game of the series. Seattle U was held to six hits in game two of the weekend set, an 8-1 Pacific victory. The Redhawks broke through in the third game, jumping out to a 10-1 lead and withstanding a seven-run Pacific sixth inning for a 10-9 victory. The Tigers finished the series with a 19-9 win.