PORTLAND, Ore.- The Pilot bats went silent a day after lighting up Santa Clara pitching for seven runs as the Broncos beat the Pilots this afternoon, 17-2, in a West Coast Conference match up at Pilot Stadium. Portland was outhit by Santa Clara 18-5 as the Pilots fell to 6-23 in the WCC, 12-43 overall. Santa Clara improves to 15-14 in the WCC, 26-29 overall.

After a scoreless first, the Broncos crossed home plate four times in the top of the second inning after collecting three hits on Pilot starter Given Kutz. The Bronco’s first run came on a double steal in a first and third situation. The runner on first, Dustin Realini, drew catcher Joe Watson’s throw to second and then got in a rundown. Will Thompson then scored as Pilot firstbaseman Adam Kerr’s throw home was a bit late. That made it 1-0 and Santa Clara never looked back.

The Pilots didn’t get on the board until the bottom of the fourth when the score was already 12-0 in SCU’s favor. With the bases juiced, Kerr hit a two-out single to leftfield that scored two. The RBI’s were Kerr’s ninth and tenth on the season. The Pilots went scoreless the rest of the way.

Given Kutz lasted three innings and gave up 11 runs on nine Bronco hits. His record falls to 2-5 on the year. Chad Fillinger (5-9) was effective on the mound for SCU as he held the Pilots hitless until the fourth inning. Three Bronco hurlers helped close out the win.

Pilot rightfielder Travis Vetters collected two of the five Pilot hits. He also scored once. Leftfielder Jeffrey Crinklaw scored the other Pilot run and went 1-4 on the day with a single.

The Pilots and Broncos close out the three-game series and the regular season tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Pilot Stadium.