McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Trey Watt threw a complete-game four-hitter
and Brock Gates slugged his fifth homer of the season as Pacific
Lutheran defeated the host Linfield Wildcats, 3-1, in the Saturday
night finale at the Jim Doran Auto Classic.
Watt improved his season record to 3-0, allowing the only run on
a fifth inning leadoff homer by Zach Boskovich. Watt struck
out three and walked three in throwing his first complete game in
three starts this season.
Gates gave the Lutes a 2-0 lead in the second inning with
his fifth round-tripper of the season, the blast coming with Ryan Aratani on base after a leadoff walk. The Lutes added their third
run in the sixth inning as Josh Takayoshi led off with a
double and eventually scored when Aratani hit into a double play.
The top three batters in the PLU order, Sammy Davis, Dan Johansen and Takayoshi, all had two hits as the Lutes finished with
nine hits against two Linfield hurlers. Ryan Larson, who allowed
nine hits in 7 2/3 innings, took the loss to fall to 1-2 this
season.
The Lutes, now 8-0 this season, play their final two games in
the rain-shortened Jim Doran Auto Classic on Sunday. They face
Puget Sound at 3 p.m. before battling Corban at 6 p.m. Scott
Wall, 2-0 this season, is scheduled to face Puget Sound, while
Robert Bleecker, also 2-0, gets the nod against Corban.
- PLU -
