PIVOTAL WEEK: After a couple of days to recover from traveling to and from Texas, plus starting the spring quarter, the Seattle University baseball team will head to Hillsboro, Ore., for a midweek game against the Oregon Ducks. The Redhawks turn right around and host WAC-leading Sacramento State in a three-game Easter weekend series that will run Thursday through Saturday to avoid playing on Easter Sunday. The Sacramento State series begins a stretch of 12 straight games where the Redhawks will not leave the Seattle-Bellevue area to play a game.
THE TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN SERIES: Seattle University swept Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas, last weekend, the first time the Redhawks have swept a weekend series on the road since the reinstatement of the baseball program in 2010. Friday, the Redhawks came back from an early 2-0 deficit, taking advantage of five Bronc errors to earn a 9-6 victory. Saturday, two more UTPA errors in the first inning helped the Redhawks score eight runs on their way to a 16-6 win. Sunday, Tarik Skubal and Ted Hammond combined on a three-hit shutout, and Seattle U earned two two-out runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to come away with the 4-0 victory. The Redhawks have now won seven of their last eight games and are off to their best conference start since joining the WAC in 2012-13.
WEATHER FORECAST: Wednesday’s forecast in Hillsboro calls for an 80 percent chance of rain in the afternoon before skies clear and temperatures drop into the 40s. Back in Bellevue, the weekend series is forecast to begin under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 50s. Friday will see considerable cloudiness with rain entering the area in the afternoon and temperatures again in the low 50s. Saturday calls for partly cloudy early with showers again coming in later in the day, with temperatures remaining in the low 50s.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: In the NCAA statistical rankings released Monday, March 30, Skyler Genger is tied for sixth in Division I with two complete games and 25th in the country with 53 total strikeouts. Landon Cray is 11th on the toughest to strikeout list, striking out once every 21.3 plate appearances. As a team, Seattle U is tied for sixth in the country in triples with 14, led by Sheldon Stober, who is tied for 16th in Division I with four triples.
SCOUTING OREGON: The Ducks enter the week with a 17-11 overall record after being swept at Arizona over the weekend. Oregon is scheduled to host Portland Tuesday before facing the Redhawks on Wednesday. As a team, the Ducks have combined for a .256 batting average, a .966 fielding percentage, and a 3.63 earned run average. Offensively, Phil Craig-St. Louis and Mitchell Tolman are each batting .302, while Brandon Cuddy is hitting .294 with three triples, three home runs, and 22 runs batted in. Out of the bullpen, Stephen Nogosek has made a team-high 13 appearances, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.11 earned run average and striking out 20 batters in 21 1/3 innings of work. Garrett Cleavinger has emerged as the Ducks’ closer, going 1-0 with three saves and a 1.32 ERA, striking out 20 batters in just 13 2/3 innings on the mound.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets enter the week with a 16-10 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 mark to lead the Western Athletic Conference after sweeping New Mexico State over last weekend. Sacramento State plays at Pacific on Tuesday before making the trip to Seattle. As a team, the Hornets have combined for a .267 batting average, a .975 fielding percentage, and a 2.81 earned run average. Offensively, Nathan Lukes leads the team with a .415 batting average, 39 hits, three home runs, 17 runs batted in, 17 walks, and six stolen bases. Scotty Burcham is batting .327 with a team-high 25 runs scored and four triples. Out of the bullpen, Grant Kukuk leads the team with 11 appearances, while Ryan Smith has three saves in 10 appearances.