Portland musters only five hits as Saint Mary’s gathers 14 and defeats the Pilots 4-1
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Corey Madden and Dan Lewis combined to pitch a five-hitter as the Saint Mary’s Gales topped the Portland Pilots 4-1 in a West Coast Conference baseball game on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. UP senior Matthew Peters extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games and knocked in Portland’s only run as the Pilots fall to 12-26 and 2-9 in the WCC.
The Gaels had 14 hits, giving them 29 in the two games against Portland, and improve to 22-16 (7-4 WCC).
Madden (6-1), held UP scoreless on three hits in 7.0 innings of work. The right-hander also struck out nine. Lewis allowed one run on two hits and two walks in 2.0 innings of relief.
Portland starter Sean Sargent (3-8) was masterful for 5.0 innings, before the Gaels touched him for three runs on four hits in the sixth inning. The junior pitched 6.1 innings total and allowed four runs on ten hits. Reliever Josh Roberts, also a junior, pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, while walking three and giving up four hits.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard for five innings, before the Gaels broke through in the sixth. Preston Young followed a Sam Carter lead-off single with a no-doubter that easily cleared the right field wall for a two-run home run. Delaney Gallagher followed with a solo home run to give Saint Mary’s back-to-back home runs for the second straight day. Sargent then retired the next three hitters to end the inning.
The Gaels added another run in the seventh. After a one-out single by Joel Staples, Roberts replaced Sargent on the hill. Carter promptly drilled a double to center field that scored Staples from first and gave SMC a 4-0 lead.
It remained 4-0 until the bottom of the eighth inning. Lewis, who relieved Madden to start the inning, gave up a one-out single to freshman Sean Nicol. Sophomore Cory Wiltshire then walked, before junior Andrew Wrisley popped out to second. Peters, who had one of Portland’s four hits to that point, then grounded the ball through the left side for a single to left field. Nicol scored from second to give Portland its only run of the game. Senior Travis Vetters then fouled out to end the inning.
Peters finished with two hits in four at-bats with the RBI.
Young went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s for Saint Mary’s, while Staples, Carter and Frederick also finished with two hits.
The Pilots and Gales conclude their three-game series with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.
