SPOKANE, Wash. – A late offensive surge powered the University of Puget Sound baseball team past Whitworth, 10-5, on Saturday afternoon at Paul Merkel Field. The Loggers (6-1) scored four runs in the ninth inning to secure their sixth win of the season, while the Pirates (5-4) were unable to capitalize on their early home runs.
Puget Sound's offense was clicking, racking up 15 hits. Kellen Krebs had a standout performance, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, including a game-sealing grand slam in the ninth. Cody Hirano also tallied three hits and scored three runs, while Preston Crockett contributed two hits, a stolen base, and an RBI.
On the mound, Brett Harvey (1-1) earned the win after pitching six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out six. Ethan Rattie and Zach Robman combined for three scoreless innings of relief, striking out five batters and allowing just three baserunners.
Whitworth took an early lead in the first inning when the Pirates launched a solo home run. The teams traded runs until Puget Sound broke the game open in the fifth inning with four runs, capitalizing on an error, a wild pitch, and key hits from Krebs, Crockett, and Makana Murashige. The Pirates responded with three runs in the sixth, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Gray and Morrison, but that was as close as they would get.
In the ninth, Puget Sound loaded the bases before Krebs crushed a towering home run over the left field fence, putting the game out of reach. Robman closed the door in the bottom of the inning, stranding two runners to seal the win.
In game two, a five-run third inning was highlighted by a Pirate grand slam, and powered Whitworth past Puget Sound, 9-3. The Loggers (6-2) struggled to find offensive rhythm early, while the Pirates (6-4) took advantage of timely hitting to secure the win.
Gray's towering blast in the third inning broke open what had been a tight contest, giving Whitworth a 5-1 lead. The Pirates tacked on a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth, putting the game out of reach before Puget Sound's late push in the ninth.
Puget Sound managed seven hits but struggled to capitalize with runners on base. The Loggers' lone bright spot came in the final frame when pinch-hitter Ryan Tobler launched a two-run home run, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
Whitworth's starting pitcher, Dawson Huntsman (1-1), kept the Loggers off balance, going 7.1 innings and allowing just one run on six hits while striking out two. Reliever Ryan Blair closed the door despite allowing two runs in the ninth.
Logger starter Charlie Decker (1-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits in four innings. Puget Sound's bullpen provided some stability, with Jayden Mizuno and Michael Moriarty combining for two scoreless innings, Tobler's late homer was one of the few offensive highlights, while Ryan Spero and Matt Churchill added singles.
Puget Sound will look to bounce back in the series finale against Whitworth tomorrow. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
