TACOMA, Wash. – Puget Sound erupted for four runs in the fourth inning and tacked on insurance late to outlast Willamette, 10–7, in a Friday afternoon slugfest at the Lumber Yard.
Friday afternoon marked the 17th win of the season for the Loggers (17-12), powered by a balanced offensive attack and clutch hitting in key moments. Starting pitcher
Charlie Decker (2-3) earned the win after working five innings, while the Logger bullpen preserved the lead down the stretch.
After Willamette (11-18) struck first with a solo homer in the top of the third, Puget Sound responded with a two-run bottom half, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from
Drew Kamihara and an RBI groundout from
Makana Murashige.
The momentum swung heavily in the Loggers' favor in the fourth. With two outs and runners aboard,
Jim O'Brien delivered an RBI double to right center. A pair of costly Bearcat errors extended the inning, allowing
Preston Crockett to rope a two-run double before Kamihara knocked in another run to cap a four-run frame.
Willamette didn't go quietly, blasting a grand slam in the fifth to momentarily give the Bearcats a 5–6 lead. Puget Sound answered right back, however, when
Kellen Krebs opened the fifth with a double and eventually scored on a single by
Sean Murphy, tying the game.
The Loggers regained control in the seventh. O'Brien doubled home
Ryan Spero before scoring on a fielding error, giving Puget Sound a 9–6 cushion.
Puget Sound added a final run in the eighth thanks to patient plate discipline. Kamihara scored after three walks and a bases-loaded free pass drawn by
Cody Hirano. The Bearcats pushed one across in the ninth, but
Zach Robman shut the door to record the final three outs.
O'Brien led the Logger offense, going 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Crockett also tallied two hits, two RBIs, and two runs, while Murphy reached base three times and drove in a pair.
Willamette committed five errors, while Puget Sound capitalized for six unearned runs.
The teams will meet again Saturday in Tacoma for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
