PORTLAND, Ore.- The Portland Pilots gave up five runs in the fourth inning to the Santa Clara Broncos and dropped a 10-2 decision in the season finale on Sunday afternoon at Pilot Stadium. Portland finishes the year 12-44 overall, 6-24 in the West Coast Conference, while the Broncos are 27-29 overall, 16-14 in the WCC.
Santa Clara scored twice in the third inning after a leadoff walk, single and stolen base put two runners in scoring position. David Hoffmire singled home Ryan Chiarelli for the first run of the game and Nic Crosta’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
The Broncos opened it up with five more in the fourth, spearheaded by four consecutive hits to leadoff the inning. Portland went through three relievers in the frame before sophomore Joe Jones recorded the final two outs, but the damage was done on six hits and a hit by pitch.
Portland loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings, but came away empty in the fourth and crossed just two runs in the fifth. Senior Jeff Crinklaw drew a bases-loaded walk and Mike McRae’s RBI-groundout made it 7-2.
Santa Clara added another run in the sixth and two more in the eight on Dustin Realini’s two-run blast into the parking lot in left field for the 10-2 final.
John Redmond earned the victory and improved to 7-2 after allowing two runs in five innings. Anthony Rea held Portland scoreless over the final three frames to record his league-leading 13th save. Portland’s Matt Peters took the loss in relief and fell to 3-10 on the season.
Nik Kosach, Travis Vetters and Joe Watson each had two hits for Portland, while David Hoffmire and Realini both notched a pair of hits and two RBI for the Broncos.
With 76 hits on the season for Vetters, he moved into sole possession of third all-time on Portland’s single-season list. Crinklaw’s 18 doubles ties him for fifth all-time.
Emotions ran high early as three players were ejected in the top of the first inning. Pilot sophomore left-hander Andrew Renyer, and Santa Clara’s Will Thompson and Matt McColgan were tossed after a confrontation ensued when Renyer hit Thompson with two outs and a runner on first.
