Feb. 17, 2007

Lutes Drop Third Straight at Arizona Desert Classic

Roger Guzman - another three-hit game

ANTHEM, Ariz. – Pacific Lutheran dropped its third straight game at the Arizona Desert Classic on Saturday as the Whittier Poets defeated the Lutes, 4-2.

With the loss, the Lutes fall to 3-3 for the season. They wrap up tournament play at 2 p.m. Sunday when they fact the La Verne Leopards.

PLU had struggled offensively in the first two games, dropping a 7-2 decision to Redlands and a 7-1 verdict to Cal Lutheran. In those two games, the Lutes had managed just 12 hits in 18 innings. While they were better in the hit category on Saturday with 11 safeties, few came at crucial times as the Lutes left nine runners on base.

The Lutes took a 1-0 lead in the first when Roger Guzman led off with a single, moved to third base on a base hit by Tyler Green, and then scored on a fielder’s choice by Jordan Post. PLU added its final tally in the ninth when Kris Hansen singled to drive in Matt Wolford, who had walked.

In the seven innings between those rallies, however, the Lutes got only one runner as far as second base. Meanwhile, Whittier scored single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings and added its final two runs in the ninth.

Guzman had his second three-hit game of the season, and both Ryan Thorne and Bryce Depew collected a pair of hits for the Lutes. Robert Bleecker took the loss for the Lutes, allowing just one run on three hits while fanning three in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Justin Armijo improved his record to 1-1 by going the distance for the Poets, giving up just the two runs while walking one and striking out two.

- PLU -