Portland starts an eight-game, 10-day road trip with a 9-2 loss to Nevada
RENO, Nev. --- The Portland Pilots rallied to tie Nevada 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, but the Wolf Pack responded with two runs in the bottom half and five more in the eighth inning to win 9-2 at Peccole Park on Friday afternoon. The loss drops the Pilots to 2-11 this season. Nevada improves to 5-11.
Portland starter Ari Ronick pitched a productive 5.1 innings, holding Nevada to two runs on seven hits, while striking out five. Both runs came on Nevada solo home runs in the second and fourth innings.
Down 2-0 in the top of the sixth, Portland loaded the bases with no outs when Matthew Peters reached on a fielder’s choice after a Nik Kosach single and a Jesse Rodgers double. Cory Wiltshire drew a walk to pick up the RBI and pull the Pilots within a run. Nevada starter Tim Schoeninger then retired the next three batters on two strike outs and a fly out to end the threat.
Owen Brolsma relieved Schoeninger in the top of the seventh and promptly gave up a run. Freshman Sean Nicol continued his hot start to the season at the plate with a one-out double down the right field line. After Nicol advanced to third on an error, Nik Kosach drove him home with a double to left that tied the game at 2-2.
Nevada responded with a pair of runs off Portland reliever Josh Roberts (1-2) in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and a runner on second, Shawn Scobee homered to right center field to give the lead back to the Pack.
In the bottom of the eighth, Nevada picked up a run on reliever Danny Meier before loading the bases with one out. Justin Ehlers replaced Meier on the hill and gave up a grand slam to Scobee making it a 9-2 Nevada lead. Scobee went 4 for 5 on the day with seven RBI’s and three runs.
Wolf Pack reliever Wesley Dorsett didn’t allow a hit and struck out three 2.2 innings to pick up the win.
Nicol went 3 for 5 with two doubles and a run for the Pilots. Kosach finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run as Portland totaled seven hits. Nevada had 12 hits.
Portland plays the Wolf Pack in the second game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m., before wrapping up the three-game set with a game on Sunday.
