FRESNO, Calif.- The University of Portland baseball team fell 4-3 to Brigham Young University Friday afternoon at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic held at Beiden Field. Portland (3-12) scored two runs in the top of the ninth after a series of wild pitches extended the game, but BYU (10-15) responded with a walk-off RBI single by Kory Knell in the bottom of the ninth to claim their sixth consecutive win and a spot in the tournament’s first-place game tomorrow afternoon. Portland awaits the outcome of the other games today in determining who they will play in the tournament finale tomorrow.

The game began as a pitcher’s dual with Portland sophomore right-hander Trent Kristjanson getting the better of Cougar starter Justin Su’a. Kristjanson was cruising into the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead, but BYU scored three runs in bottom half of the inning to take their first lead of the day. Ryan Chambers led off with triple and scored on Knell’s double. Ranger Wiens and Ben Saylor then each hit RBI singles for the 4-2 lead.

BYU reliever Nick Lemon came on to try and close the door on Portland but encountered some control problems. After getting the first two Pilot batters out, Lemon gave up a single to Colton Homme and walked Adam Kerr. He then mixed in five wild pitches allow both runners to come around and score, tying it at 4-4. Lance Beus came on for the final out of the inning, striking out Nik Kosach with a runner on first.

Portland went to sophomore Stephen Ball out of the bullpen, and the Cougars were able to construct a score playing small ball. Wade Vest hit a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by Chambers. Knell then singled to right field, bringing home Vest to end the game.

Kristjanson went eight innings for Portland, allowing 10 hits and four runs. Ball drops to 0-2 on the season but will get another chance tomorrow as he will take the mound in a starting role. Beus (2-1) was the winning pitcher of record after getting just the one out.

Homme led Portland at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. He collected three singles and his fourth double of the season. Kosach gathered three hits and an RBI while Travis Vetters added two more hits for the Pilots.

Wiens had three hits for BYU as the Cougars tallied 12 hits for the game. Both teams were flawless in the field, not committing an error on either side.

Portland will play in either the first-place or third-place game tomorrow depending on the outcome of the rest of today’s games. As mentioned, Stephen Ball (0-2) will take the mound for the Pilots.