March 16, 2008

Watt Turns Out Lights on Pioneers at Lutes Split Doubleheader

Game One
Game Two

Trey Watt - complete game victory

Andrew Hernandez - two-run homer

PARKLAND, Wash. – Trey Watt threw a complete game six-hitter to give the Pacific Lutheran Lutes a 9-2 win and a split of Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader with the visiting Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers won the opener, 3-2.

Watt improved his record to 1-1, striking out six and walking no one in going the seven-inning distance in the second game. He allowed the Pioneers (4-12 overall, 2-10 NWC) single runs in each of the last two innings, including an unearned run in the sixth.

PLU (8-7-2 overall, 6-6 NWC) collected four runs in the first inning against Lewis & Clark starter David La Douceur, giving Watt all of the support he needed. Josh Takayoshi led off the inning with a walk, promptly stole second, and then scored on Jordan Post’s one-out single. Matt Akridge followed with an opposite field double to right, and Kris Hansen drove in Post and Akridge with an opposite field double to the left field corner. Hansen stole third and jogged home on Carl Benton’s double into the left field corner.

The Lutes added two more runs in the fifth on a two-run homer by Andrew Hernandez, and they tallied another on Benton’s solo blast in the fifth. After Lewis & Clark scored its unearned run in the top of the sixth, Matt Wolford plated PLU’s final runs with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers finished the scoring on Michael Orr’s RBI single in the top of the seventh.

The hosts finished the game with 12 hits, including two each by Post, Akridge, Benton and Ryan Aratani. AJ Brown had a pair of hits for the Pioneers in the second game.

Watt’s second game performance was a mirror of a strong outing by Lewis & Clark’s Tucker Laurence in the first game. The Laurence limited the Lutes to four hits through the first six innings and then survived a final PLU barrage to collect his third win against no losses.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Hansen, Aratani and Benton collected consecutive singles to load the bases. Geoff Gabler drove in Hansen with a single, and Aratani scored on a fielder’s choice ground ball. With the tying run in second base, Takayoshi flied out to end the game.

Lewis & Clark jumped ahead 2-0 in the second, parlaying a pair of walks, an infield single and a fielder’s choice into the first run. With two outs, Ryan Kostecka laid down a perfect drag bunt for the second run of the frame. The Pioneers scored what proved to be the winning run in the sixth when Brown and TJ Witkowski hit consecutive singles, followed by an RBI double by Neal Finch.

Brown and Finch each had two hits for the Pioneers, as did Hansen and Benton for the Lutes.

Laurence allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking no one. Brett Brunner pitched six innings, allowing six hits and walking four in taking his second loss this season.

- PLU -