STEPPING UP: Seattle University enters a crucial stretch of games this week, starting with the final game of the season series against crosstown rival Washington, this one taking place at Bannerwood Park. That will be the 33rd home game of the season for the Redhawks, who then board an airplane for only the second time this season to play baseball, as Seattle U heads south to face Bakersfield over the weekend. The Redhawks are ahead of the Roadrunners by 1 1/2 games in the WAC standings and need to win at least one game to remain ahead of Bakersfield after the series. The trip to Bakersfield begins a season-long seven-game road swing for the Redhawks, who play 10 of their final 14 regular season games away from home.
THE NORTH DAKOTA SERIES: Seattle University extended its conference winning streak to 11 games last Friday, defeating North Dakota 4-2 to open the three-game weekend series. North Dakota scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game, but Seattle U responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. thanks to RBI singles by Dalton Hurd and Brian Olson, and Kyle Doyle retired the North Dakota batters in order in the ninth inning to secure the Redhawk victory. The 11-game WAC winning streak, along with a 10-game home winning streak, came to an end Saturday as North Dakota scored in the top of the seventh inning and held off Seattle U for a 3-2 victory. Sunday, North Dakota scored four runs in the third inning, and it kept scoring runs in its 9-2 victory, bringing about Seattle U’s first WAC series loss of the season.
WEATHER FORECAST: Tuesday’s forecast calls for showers to move into the Bellevue area later in the afternoon. Temperatures will probably fall into the 50s, with winds shifting from northeast to southeast at 10-15 miles per hour. No one should have any problems with the weather in Bakersfield over the weekend. Clear skies Friday night with temperatures falling into the low 60s or high 50s, followed by sunshine Saturday and Sunday with temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: In the NCAA statistical rankings released Monday, April 20, Skyler Genger is 18th in the country with 76 total strikeouts. Landon Cray is 10th on the toughest to strikeout list, striking out once every 20.0 plate appearances. As a team, Seattle U is 15th in the country in triples with 15 and 24th in stolen bases with 62.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON: The Huskies enter the week with a 21-16 overall record after losing two of three games to Arizona State over the weekend. As a team, Washington has compiled a .263 batting average, a .976 fielding percentage, and a 3.07 earned run average. Offensively, Branden Berry leads the team with a .307 batting average, six home runs, and 29 runs batted in. Braden Bishop has collected a team-high 10 doubles and 13 stolen bases to go along with four home runs and 22 RBI. Austin Rei returned to the Husky lineup this weekend and is now batting .379 (11-of-29) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, six RBI, and four walks. Out of the bullpen, Brandon Choate has made 24 appearances, going 1-2 with a 2.32 earned run average and two saves, striking out 50 batters in just 42 2/3 innings of work.
SCOUTING BAKERSFIELD: The Roadrunners enter the week with a 22-15-1 overall record after winning 11 of their last 14 games. Bakersfield will host Cal State Fullerton Wednesday before welcoming the Redhawks to town. In conference play, Bakersfield sits in third place with a 10-4-1 WAC record, 1 1/2 games behind Seattle U after taking two of three games over Sacramento State last weekend. As a team, the Roadrunners have combined for a .275 batting average, a .978 fielding percentage, and a 3.45 earned run average. Offensively, David Metzgar leads the team with a .376 batting average and 11 doubles, plus he has 23 runs batted in and seven stolen bases. Ryan Grotjohn is batting .325 with six doubles, five triples, three home runs, and 18 RBI. Chance Gusbeth has two home runs and a team-high 24 runs batted in, plus he is a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts. Out of the bullpen, Alec Daily has made 12 relief appearances, striking out 23 batters in 23 2/3 innings of work.