TACOMA, Wash. — May 4, 2025 — A promising start quickly unraveled for the Puget Sound baseball team as Pacific Lutheran erupted for 14 runs over the final four innings to hand the Loggers a 17-7 loss in Northwest Conference action on Saturday.
Despite a 4-2 lead through three innings and a 5-3 edge entering the sixth, Puget Sound (22-15) couldn't keep the Lutes (17-21) at bay. Pacific Lutheran piled on six runs in the sixth, including a three-run homer by Barber that swung the game permanently in the visitors' favor.
The Loggers pounded out 16 hits, including three each from Spero, Churchill, and Teruya. Spero launched a solo home run in the sixth — his first of the season — and also doubled. Churchill drove in two runs and crossed the plate twice, while Teruya matched him with two RBIs of his own.
Puget Sound's bullpen struggled to contain the Lutes' bats, surrendering 15 runs from the sixth inning on. PLU's Keintz went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Barber finished 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs. Beecham added a homer, a double, and four RBIs as part of his 4-for-5 performance.
Logger starter Crockett gave up two runs in three innings, while reliever Holliday (1-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs without recording an out in the sixth.
Pacific Lutheran finished with 20 hits, 17 RBIs, and drew eight walks, capitalizing on nearly every opportunity down the stretch. The Lutes scored in seven of nine innings, including a six-run ninth to put the game far out of reach.
In game two, the Loggers flipped the script when strong pitching and solid hitting lifted them to a 3-1 win.
Nevan Lee tossed five solid innings and allowed just one run on three hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked one before handing the ball off to the bullpen. Pfingston followed with a scoreless sixth, and Blackwell closed the door with a clean seventh to notch his first save of the season.
Puget Sound capitalized on a Pacific Lutheran error to take the lead in the bottom of the third. After Makishima was hit by a pitch and Deggeller reached on a miscue at second base, Brennan singled to load the bases. Allen came through with a two-run single up the middle, driving in Makishima and Deggeller to put the Loggers on top, 2-1.
Allen finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Brennan collected two of the team's four hits.
The Loggers added an insurance run in the sixth when Allen popped out, but Sullivan drew a walk and eventually scored on a base hit by Comeaux, stretching the lead to 3-1.
The Lutes scored their lone run in the top of the third on an RBI double by Cruz that brought home Hamel, who had doubled earlier in the frame.
The Loggers next face off next weekend against the other top teams in the conference in the NWC Tournament, the first UPS appearance in the DIII era.
