MAKING ADJUSTMENTS: In light of the impending forecast of rain for later this week, there have been some changes made to the schedule for this week's three-game series between Seattle University and Nebraska Omaha at Bannerwood Stadium in Bellevue. The first game of the series on Tuesday, Feb. 28, is now scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled time of 4 p.m. The second game of the series on Wednesday, Feb. 29, is now also scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled time of 4 p.m. Also, the two teams may play a second game Wednesday if the weather is good enough then and the forecast for Thursday looks bad at that time.
THE SACRAMENTO STATE SERIES: In its first major road trip of the season, Seattle U was swept by Sacramento State last weekend at John Smith Field in Sacramento, Calif. In the first game last Friday, Sacramento State scored a run in each of the first two innings before Seattle U scored twice in the third inning to pull into a 2-2 tie. The Hornets scored three times in the bottom of the third inning, but the Redhawks put together another comeback with one run in the fourth and a two-run Brian Olson double in the fifth to pull into a 5-5 tie. Sacramento State scored once in the sixth and three more times in the seventh. Marcelino Morales hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning, but that was not enough as the Redhawks lost, 9-6. In Saturday's game, Redhawk starter Bryan Dalton set down the first 14 batters he faced, but Seattle U could not offer any offensive support. Dalton struggled in the sixth as the Hornets scored five runs to take the lead. Seattle U tried to put together a comeback with two runs in the seventh and three runs in the ninth, but a run scored by Sacramento State in the eighth proved to be important as the Hornets prevailed, 6-5. In Sunday's final game of the series, Seattle U jumped out to an early lead, eventually extending its lead to 7-2 after the top of the sixth inning. Sacramento State chipped away with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to cut its deficit down to two at 7-5. In the bottom of the ninth, Will Soto hit a three-run walk-off home run to complete the Hornet comeback. Cullen Hendrickson and Trent Oleszczuk each finished the series with five hits and a .600 on-base percentage to lead the Redhawk offense.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA OMAHA: The Mavericks are 1-7 after being swept in a four-game series at Washington State. Going into the Monday doubleheader, UNO has compiled a .249 batting average, a .951 fielding percentage, and a 6.70 earned run average. Alex Mortensen leads the team offensively with a .462 (6-for-13) batting average, including three doubles, and five runs batted in. The Mavericks have yet to hit a home run so far this season. These will be the first meetings all-time between Seattle U and Nebraska Omaha.
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN'S: The Saints are 2-12 entering the rubber game of a three-game series against Pacific Lutheran Monday. Through the first game of the PLU series, Saint Martin's has compiled a .213 batting average, a .932 fielding percentage, and a 10.43 earned run average. Zach Leonard leads the team offensively with a .297 batting average, including a double, a triple, and a home run. Josh Grenier leads the Saints with six runs batted in and four stolen bases. Saint Martin's has struck out 102 times through the first 13 games, averaging almost eight strikeouts per game.
LAST MEETING: Seattle U hosted Saint Martin's in the first home game for the Redhawk baseball team since the reinstatement of the program. On Feb. 23, 2010, the Saints acted as rude guests, taking control of the game early and cruising to a 21-7 victory over the Redhawks at Bannerwood Stadium. For Saint Martin's, Aaron Johnson led the way by going 4-for-7 with two doubles, a home run, and eight runs batted in. Seattle U answered four Saint runs in the top of the third with four of its own in the bottom of the inning, but Saint Martin's scored 13 straight times over the next three innings to put the game away.
WEATHER FORECAST: Inclement weather is expected into the area late Tuesday, giving the coaches enough reason to move the game up in order to get it in. Temperatures are expected to stay in the 40s with chances of participation throughout the week.
OUCH, THAT HURTS: In just the first seven games of the season, Trent Oleszczuk has been hit by a pitch seven times, leading the team. For those who are keeping track, the NCAA Division I record for most times hit by a pitch in a single season is 37 by Brian Harris of Vanderbilt in 2010. As a team, Seattle U has been hit by a pitch 18 times over the first seven games of the 2012 campaign, an average of 2.6 times per game. Taken over the scheduled 54 games, that would translate to 140 times hit by a pitch, which would break the single-season record currently held by Campbell, who was hit by a pitch 133 times as a team last year.