After a four-run first inning, the Pilots are held scoreless on three hits the rest of the way
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Washington Huskies overcame an early deficit to defeat the Portland Pilots 10-4 in a non-conference baseball game on a warm Tuesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots jumped out to an early 4-2 advantage after one inning, before UW outscored Portland 8-0 the rest of the way.
The Pilots drop to 15-34 this season, while Washington improves to 33-23.
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, freshman Sean Nicol hit his fourth home run of the season to cut the lead in half. Sophomore Cory Wiltshire followed with his team-high fourth triple of the season, before scoring on a wild pitch by UW starter Bryce Mooney. After singles from sophomore Danny Meier and senior Matthew Peters, senior Travis Vetters gave Portland a 3-2 lead with an RBI single to left field. Reliever Adrian Gomez then replaced Mooney. Portland tallied its final run on a dropped line drive by the third baseman that allowed Peters to score.
Gomez (1-1) held the Pilots scoreless on three hits and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Reliever Elliott Cribby held the Pilots hitless in the final two innings.
Portland starter Sean Sargent (3-11) gave up six runs on 12 hits in 5.0 innings. During one stretch, Sargent retired 10 straight Huskies hitters.
Still trailing 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning, the Huskies scored twice to tie the game. Michael Burgher knocked in one run with an RBI single, before Matt Hague tied the game with an RBI double to right center field.
The Huskies scored two more in the sixth, before sophomore Brian Yoakum replaced Sargent on the mound. Matt Lane hit a towering solo home run to right field to lead off the inning. Matt Stevens made it 6-4 with an RBI single to center field.
UW scored four more runs in the top of the seventh inning, with two scoring on a Curt Rindal home run to left field.
The Huskies finished with 14 hits, while the Pilots totaled seven. Wiltshire had a pair of hits for Portland
The Pilots conclude the 2006 season with a three-game West Coast Conference series against the Loyola Marymount Lions this weekend at Joe Etzel field. The Pilots and Lions are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. on Friday and at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
