March 25, 2007

DiPietro, Simpson Pitch Lutes Past Lewis & Clark

Game One
Game Two

Joe DiPietro - game one winner

Hunter Simpson - game two winner

PORTLAND, Ore. – Joe DiPietro and Hunter Simpson baffled Lewis & Clark batters as Pacific Lutheran swept a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader from the Pioneers on Sunday afternoon.

The Lutes, who have won six straight and 13 of their last 15, improved to 6-2 in the conference by winning the first game, 7-1, and taking the nightcap, 7-2.

DiPietro improved his season record to 6-1 by going eight innings in the opener. The senior right-hander from Yakima allowed one run on four hits while striking out three and walking three. Dylan Stanford worked the final inning to close out the Pioneers.

Robert Bleecker was PLU’s starting pitcher in the second game, but the freshman struggled with his control, walking three batters and giving up a hit as the Pioneers scored one and loaded the bases. Simpson got out of the inning with a fly ball, and from there he was outstanding. A sophomore transfer, Simpson improved his season record to 2-1 by giving up just one run on four hits in 8 1/3 innings. Simpson walked two batters and struck out one while lowering his earned run average more than two runs to 3.37.

Jared Simon was PLU’s offensive star in the opener, collecting three hits and driving in two runs. Justin Whitehall added a pair of singles to PLU’s 10-hit attack.

The Lutes took a 2-0 lead with unearned runs in the first and fourth innings, but the Pioneers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. PLU scored twice in the seventh to take a 4-1 lead. Bryce Depew started the rally with a single and he scored on a Jared Simon double. Simon later scored on a squeeze bunt by Roger Guzman. The Lutes added its final three runs in the ninth with Simon and Ryan Thorne hitting RBI singles and Jordan Post adding a run-scoring ground out.

The Lutes fell behind 2-1 in the second game before catcher Brandon Sales turned the game around with one swing. With two outs in the sixth inning, Justin Whitehall started the rally with a double down the right field line. Logan Andrews drew a walk and Kris Hansen was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sales then hit an Eric Maroncelli pitch over the fence in left-center field for his second homer of the season. PLU closed out the scoring in the ninth inning on a two-run homer by Ryan Thorne.

Pacific Lutheran collected 10 hits in the second game, including two each by Sales, Thorne and Post.

The two teams conclude their three-game conference series with a nine-inning game starting at noon on Monday. The game can be heard online courtesy of the Lewis & Clark College athletic department at http://www.sportsjuice.com/broadcaster2.aspx?bid=NjA%3d-FeRRGAV8EmQ%3d.

- PLU -