DOWN THE STRETCH: Seattle University looks to finish the 2012 season on a strong note during this week's four-game homestand. The final stretch starts Tuesday with the third and final game of the season series against the Washington Huskies at Bannerwood Park. The Redhawks and the Huskies split the first two games this season at Husky Ballpark, and Seattle U is looking to win the season series with its first home victory over Washington since the reestablishment of the baseball program. This weekend, the Portland Pilots come to town for a three-game series. Friday's game has been moved up to a 1 p.m. start at Bannerwood Park, while the Saturday and Sunday contests will take place at Courter Field on the campus of Bellevue College. Before Saturday's game, the seniors on the 2012 squad will be recognized for their contributions to the program.
DIRECTIONS TO COURTER FIELD AT BELLEVUE COLLEGE (USE NORTH ENTRANCE)
From Seattle: Follow I-90 eastbound. Take Exit 11B (148th Ave. S.E.). Turn left on S.E. 24th Street (second stoplight) and proceed one block to BC's north entrance.
From Issaquah: Take I-90 westbound to Exit 11. After exiting, follow the signs for 156th Avenue S.E. At the stoplight, turn left onto Eastgate Way. Move into the right lane and turn right at 150th Avenue S.E. Stay in the right lane, drive up the hill and merge onto 148th Avenue S.E. Turn left on S.E. 24th Street (second stoplight) and proceed one block to BC's north entrance.
WEATHER FORECAST: As of Monday, May 21, the forecast calls for showers on Tuesday with temperatures in the mid 50s and winds south-southwest at 11 mph. The sun is expected to be back on Friday with temperatures in the mid 60s and light winds. Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Saturday with temperatures still in the mid 60s, with showers coming in on Sunday and temperatures cooling to around 60 degrees.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Because of rainouts and the addition of games during the season, Seattle U has played eight doubleheaders during the 2012 season. The Redhawks swept twinbills against Nebraska Omaha Feb. 29 and against Nevada May 5, but was swept by BYU April 12 and by Central Michigan May 9. Seattle U is 4-4 in the first game of a doubleheader and 4-4 in the second game of a twinbill.
NEXT SEASON: Seattle University joins the Western Athletic Conference and will compete for a league title against the following teams in 2013: CSU Bakersfield, Dallas Baptist, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Sacramento State, San Jose State, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, and Texas State. The 2013 WAC Tournament will be held in Grand Prairie, Texas, May 22-26. Seattle U is scheduled to welcome Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Sacramento State, and New Mexico State to the Pacific Northwest while traveling to CSU Bakersfield, Dallas Baptist, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, and Texas State.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON: The Huskies come into Tuesday's game with a 27-24 overall record, including an 11-16 record in Pac-12 play after being swept by 19th-ranked Arizona State over the weekend. Washington has lost six of its last seven games. As a team, the Huskies have compiled a .284 batting average, a .979 fielding percentage, and a 3.73 earned run average. Offensively, Chase Anselment leads the team in batting average at .330, while Jayce Ray is batting .325 with team highs in hits (62), runs scored (37), doubles (11), triples (3), and stolen bases (6). Jacob Lamb also has 11 doubles along with 30 runs batted in and 28 walks, and Michael Camporeale has hit a team-high four home runs. Out of the bullpen, Joshua Fredendall has made 24 appearances and has a 1-2 record with a 1.84 earned run average and nine saves, striking out 31 opposing batters in 29 1/3 innings.
SU/UW 2012 MEETINGS: The first meeting between Seattle U and Washington was delayed 24 hours due to weather. On Feb. 22 at Husky Ballpark, the Redhawks took advantage of the jitters of Husky freshman starter Jared Fisher, loading the bases in the top of the first inning thanks in part to two walks and a hit batter. A two-run single hit by Riley Tompkins gave Seattle U a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Seattle U starter Brandon Kizer worked his way out of bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings before settling down and pitching 6 1/3 innings of four-hit ball before Garrett Anderson came on for the final 2 2/3 innings without giving up a hit. The Redhawks earned their third win over the Huskies in the past two seasons, 5-1. On April 17 at Husky Ballpark, five Washington pitchers combined for a six-hit shutout as the Huskies tied the season series with a 6-0 win.
SCOUTING PORTLAND: The Pilots enter the week with a 25-23 overall record, including a 12-12 record within the West Coast Conference after being swept over the weekend by Gonzaga. Portland plays two games, one at home Tuesday and one on the road Wednesday, against Oregon before making the trip north for the weekend series against the Redhawks. As a team, the Pilots have combined for a .239 batting average, a .972 fielding percentage, and a 3.00 earned run average. Offensively, Turner Gill leads the team with a .304 batting average with 52 hits, including 11 doubles and five home runs, plus he has driven in 26 runs. The three main starters for Portland, Travis Radke, Kyle Kraus, and Chris Johnson, have combined for 17 victories, three complete games, and a 2.41 earned run average. Owen Jones has made 27 appearances out of the bullpen, going 1-2 with a 1.35 ERA and 15 saves.
SEATTLE U VS. PORTLAND: Entering the weekend, Seattle U and Portland have faced each other 129 times on the diamond, with Portland holding a slight 66-63 advantage. Since Seattle U brought back baseball in 2010, these two teams have met 10 times, with Portland holding an 8-2 advantage. The two teams played a three-game series in Portland Feb. 27-28, 2010, with Portland winning the first two games before Seattle U broke through with its first victory of the season, a 5-4 win in which Steve Kirbach drove in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth inning. Portland came to Bannerwood Park later that year and won two games April 30 and May 1. In 2011, Portland officially won two of three games over the Redhawks March 5-6 at Bannerwood Park and then earned two straight wins at Joe Etzel Field March 24-25.