George Fox holds Portland to three runs on eight hits as UP’s longest winning streak since 1991 ends at seven
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Winners of seven straight, the Portland Pilots dropped a non-conference game 7-3 to George Fox on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. After averaging nearly 11 runs and 14 hits per game during the winning streak, four Bruin pitchers held the Pilots (10-14) to three runs on eight hits. It’s the eighth straight win for George Fox (16-6).
Joe Jones (0-2) gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning, as Portland used five pitchers in the game.
George Fox used four pitchers, with Chris Albrecht (3-2) picking up the win. Albrecht relieved Bruin starter Jeff Wheeler in the fourth inning and gave up one run on two hits, while striking out a pair.
The Pilots were forced to play catch-up for most of the game after George Fox took an early 2-0 lead. Portland tied it with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After junior Jesse Rodgers led off with a walk, sophomore Pat Geraghty made it runners on the corners with a single to left field. Travis Vetters then knocked in a run with a single to right field. Geraghty advanced to third on the play, before scoring to tie the game at 2-2 when senior Matthew Peters grounded into a double play.
The Bruins quickly responded with a run in the top of the fifth. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, senior Nik Kosach followed a single by freshman Sean Nicol with a double just inside the right field line that brought Nicol all the way around to score.
Tied 3-3 in the top of the sixth, George Fox put up three to take the lead and control of the game. Pinch hitter Nic Chapin knocked in two with a single to left field. Center fielder Drew Johnson then knocked in the Bruins’ third run of the inning with a single to center to make it 6-3.
The Bruins added another run in the eighth. Portland didn’t get a runner past second base the rest of the way.
Nicol was the only to Pilot to have multiple hits as the second baseman went 2-for-4 on the day, improving his batting average this season to .403. Junior center fielder Justin Ehlers, who also pitched the ninth inning for Portland, went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
Portland finished its longest homestand of the season with a 5-1 record. Next up for Portland is the conference-opening three-game series at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., beginning with a 1 p.m. game on Friday. The Bulldogs and Pilots play at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
