Boxers Get Strong Starting Pitching In Losses To Lutes
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box ScorePARKLAND, Wash. – Pacific received a pair of strong starting pitching performances by
Nathan Suyematsu (So., Tualatin, Ore.) and
Colin McCusker (Jr., Olympia, Wash.) Saturday, but neither translated to wins as the Boxers were swept by Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader at the PLU Field.
Suyematsu allowed just one earned run in the opener, but the Lutes converted a seventh inning error into two runs as they went on to a 3-1 victory. In the nightcap, McCusker threw a complete-game four hitter, but again the Lutes converted an error into a run to take the 1-0 win.
With the losses, Pacific dropped to 11-23, 4-19 NWC, while the Lutes improved to 24-14, 15-8 NWC.
GAME 1: PACIFIC LUTHERAN 3, PACIFIC 1Suyematsu helped his own cause by putting Pacific on the board in the first, leading off the game with a double and scoring on
Ben Duerr's (So., Lebanon, Ore.) single to left center field.
Suyematsu then held the Lutes' bats at bay until the third. Nicholas Hall led off the inning with a single and scored on a single to left field by Shawn Abe.
PLU took the lead for good with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh. After Curtis Wildung drew a leadoff walk, Hall reached when his sacrifice bunt was mishandled. Collin Nilson pushed the winning run across with his sacrifice fly and Drew Oord added a single to center field that scored Alec Beal.
Pacific's best chance to score after the first inning came in the fourth.
Donnie Bradley (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) reached on an error and advanced to third on a single by
Justin Strayer (So., Ventura, Calif.) and a ground out before PLU starter Trevor Lubking got another ground out to end the threat.
Suyematsu fell to 2-4 on the season with the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Lubking went the distance to improve to 6-2 on the season, allowing one run on five hits with eight strikeouts.
Duerr went 2 for 4 to lead Pacific at the plate while Kory Vanderstaay went 2 for 3 for the Lutes.
GAME 2: PACIFIC LUTHERAN 1, PACIFIC 0McCusker put together the best pitching performance the Boxers have seen all season. In eight innings, the sophomore allowed just one unearned run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
But three fielding errors came back to haunt the Boxers, leading to the only run of the game in the PLU fourth inning. Nilson led off with a double to left center field. Oord followed with a bunt single and Nilson scored then the throw to try and put Oord out at first went wide of the bag. McCusker then proceeded to retire the next two batters.
Despite five hits off of PLU starter Chris Bishop, the Boxers were unable to bring any runners across the plate. Pacific left 10 men on base and never saw a runner get past second base.
Bishop picked up his fifth win of the season for PLU, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out six in seven innings of work. AJ Konopaski picked up his 13th save of the season, working the eighth and ninth innings.
The Boxers and Lutes will complete their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Â
