PORTLAND, Ore.- Six University of Portland pitchers combined to limit George Fox to five hits, as the upstart Pilots dealt the Bruins a 4-2 loss at Pilot Stadium. George Fox (23-8) entered the game with a .356 team batting average, but Portland (7-26) pitchers did not allow an earned run as the Pilots cruised to their fourth win in the last six games.
The Pilots used a three-run sixth inning to take the lead for good as five relief pitchers held the Bruins scoreless over the last six frames. Portland junior Mike McRae got the rally started with a leadoff walk and sophomore Rhett Parker blasted a line drive to deep center field, but wet weather conditions and a bit of wind knocked the ball down enough for George Fox outfielder Drew Johnson to make an exceptional diving catch at the 390-foot marker. Freshmen Adam Kerr and Billy Krause then hit back-to-back singles, the latter scoring McRae and tying the game at two. After Jesse Rodgers’ RBI groundout gave UP the lead, second baseman Gustaf Little hit a run-scoring single to left field for Portland’s fourth run.
The bullpen took care of business all day, spelling starter Jared Adams who pitched three solid innings, striking out two and giving up two unearned runs. Joe Jones pitched a scoreless third inning and Given Kutz (2-0) earned the win after two more scoreless innings. Sean Sargent and Kyle Corra tuned up for their weekend starts with an inning each, before Stephen Ball came on to close the door and earn his second save in the last three games.
George Fox’s runs came on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Stephen Donohue with runners on first and second. Adams fielded the ball cleanly and tried to get the lead runner at third, but a wild throw into the Portland bullpen allowed both runners to score. Adams managed to strand Donohue at third by getting a shallow flyout and weak grounder to second base.
Portland scored their first run in the bottom of the third inning as Vetters plated Little with a sacrifice fly.
Little finished the day 2-for-4, scoring a run and driving in another. Nik Kosach also had a pair of hits including his fifth double of the season. Jeffrey Crinklaw, making the start at catcher to give Joe Watson a deserved rest, was 2-for-2 extending his hitting streak to 11 games.
Bruins junior starter Scott Hyde struck out two Pilots in his only inning of work, giving him 309 career strikeouts, moving him into a tie for 15th all-time in Division III history. Hyde is 18 K’s away from current Philadelphia Phillies closer Billy Wagner’s three-year D-III record for strikeouts.
Portland gets back to conference play on the road at Gonzaga on Apr. 16-18, for a three-game set. Friday and Saturday’s games are slated for 3 p.m. starts, while Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
