The University of Puget Sound Loggers have earned a place in the 2026 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament, setting the stage for a potential run at the NCAA Division III championship. The event will be held May 8‑10 in Spokane, Washington, where the Loggers open against the regular‑season champion Whitworth University.
Puget Sound concluded conference play with a 14‑10 record, good for third place, while Whitworth finished the regular season atop the league at 20‑4. The Loggers secured their tournament berth by splitting a doubleheader with Pacific Lutheran, dropping the first game 10‑5 before rallying to a 2‑0 victory in the second.
Key moments from the decisive doubleheader
In the opening game, Matt Churchill’s grand slam trimmed the deficit to 7‑5, but Pacific Lutheran pulled away. The second game saw Braden Blackwell deliver 5.1 scoreless innings, and Preston Crockett’s RBI double produced the go‑ahead run that sealed the 2‑0 win.
Coach Jim O’Brien praised the team’s resilience, highlighting a pitching staff that combined for 54 strikeouts in 49 innings. Charlie Decker and Cal Johnson anchored the rotation, posting a 6‑2 record and a 6.24 ERA respectively.
The Loggers now turn their attention to the opening round matchup against top‑seeded Whitworth, a team that finished the regular season with a 26‑14 overall record. The tournament champion will earn the Northwest Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
The NCAA Division III Baseball Championship is scheduled for Eastlake, Ohio, from May 29 through June 4, giving the Loggers a chance to compete on a national stage. Their recent momentum and depth make them a dark horse in the regional competition.
Offensively, Cooper Allen led the team with a .374 batting average and 27 RBIs, while Ryan Spero posted a .323 average, 19 RBIs and four stolen bases. Matt Churchill provided the power surge with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs.