BUILDING CHARACTER: Seattle University got off to a great start in the 2015 season by winning the opener, but three straight losses will make players and coaches reevaluate where they stand. The Redhawks enter one of two weeks this season in which they will play five games, starting with a midweek game on the road followed by a four-game series at home. This week, Seattle U takes on regional rival Portland Tuesday before welcoming CSUN to the Pacific Northwest for a four-game series Friday through Sunday.
THE SAINT MARY’S SERIES: Seattle University took the first game of the weekend series against the Gaels Friday evening, 11-1. A squeeze bunt by Grant Newton drove in Landon Cray with the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, and then the Redhawks took advantage of the Gael bullpen in breaking the game open. Will Dennis scattered seven hits over six innings with one walk and five strikeouts to earn the victory. Saturday, Saint Mary’s struck back, sweeping a doubleheader from Seattle U, 7-2 and 7-4. Down 4-1 in the seventh inning of game two, the Redhawks closed to within one thanks to a two-run single by Brian Olson, but Cray was thrown out attempting to get to third base on the play. Sunday, Saint Mary’s put together a five-run second inning and kept increasing the lead throughout the game. Seattle U scored five runs in the ninth inning, but the Gaels were able to finish off an 11-6 victory to win the weekend series. Olson batted .417 over the weekend with three RBI and five walks, while Sheldon Stober earned seven hits, including two doubles and a triple, and five runs batted in, tied with Newton for the team lead.
WEATHER FORECAST: Sunny skies are expected in Portland on Tuesday with a high of 62 degrees and winds out of the east at 5-10 miles per hour. By game time Friday, the skies in Seattle/Bellevue should be partly cloudy with temperatures in the high 40s. The weather is expected to improve as the weekend goes along, with partly cloudy skies on Saturday and sunny weather on Sunday.
SEASON TICKETS: General admission season tickets for Seattle University baseball at Bannerwood Park are now available for just $50. Fans can also buy chairback seats as season tickets for $100. Single game tickets will cost $10 each for chairback seats, $7 apiece for adult bleacher seats, and $5 each for youth or senior citizens. For more information or to purchase baseball season tickets, contact the Seattle U Athletics Ticket Office at (206) 398-GOSU (4678).
SCOUTING PORTLAND: The Pilots come into Tuesday’s game with an 0-4 record after being swept by UC Riverside over the weekend in Riverside, Calif. After losing the first game of the series Friday, 3-1, the Pilots dropped both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, 6-1 and 8-4, and then lost the series finale Sunday, 9-7. As a team, Portland has accumulated a .272 batting average, a .940 fielding percentage, and a 5.62 earned run average. Michael Lucarelli led the Pilots offensively over the weekend, batting .533 with eight hits, including two doubles and a triple, along with two RBI, two walks, and two stolen bases. Billy Sahlinger, Tuesday’s starting pitcher for the Pilots, came on in relief in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and allowed three hits and one run in three innings of work while striking out four batters.
SCOUTING CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE: The Matadors come into the week with a perfect 4-0 record after taking two games from Utah Valley and two games from Gonzaga over the weekend. CSUN defeated Utah Valley on Friday, 4-2, before earning wins against both the Zags (6-2) and the Wolverines (6-0) on Saturday. CSUN closed out the weekend with a 5-1 win over Gonzaga Sunday. The Matadors will host UCLA Tuesday before coming to the Pacific Northwest. Over the weekend, CSUN combined for a .276 batting average, a .980 fielding percentage, and a 1.25 earned run average. Ryan Raslowsky led the Matador offense with a .500 batting average, with 10 different players driving in runs for CSUN. Rayne Raven started Saturday’s game against Utah Valley, striking out 16 batters in seven innings of work. Angel Rodriguez pitched a complete game Sunday against Gonzaga, scattering six hits while striking out five batters.