David Gruener

Junior David Gruener picks up the complete game as Pilots drop a 3-1 decision to the Lions

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland junior David Gruener picked up his team-high fourth complete game of the season, but it wasn’t enough as the Loyola Marymount Lions defeated the Pilots 3-1 in a West Coast Conference baseball game Friday at Page Stadium.

Gruener (3-4) struck out four, didn’t walk a hitter and surrendered eight hits in 8.0 innings.

LMU’s (21-31-1, 8-11 WCC) Brad Meyers also went the distance in a game the lasted just shy of two hours. Meyers (4-4) struck out 11 with no walks. He allowed just one Portland run on six hits.

Portland (19-26, 6-10 WCC) scored the game’s first run in the top of the fifth inning. With junior Danny Meier on second, senior Justin Pierce drilled a run-scoring single to left field, giving the Pilots a 1-0 lead.

The Lions responded with a run in the bottom half of the fifth. With one out and the bases loaded, Michael Glomb plated a run on a fielder’s choice.

LMU scored the go-ahead run the following inning before adding an insurance run in the eighth. In the bottom of the sixth, T.J. Bernardy knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field. In the eighth, DeAndre Miller hit a solo home run to left off of Gruener.

Portland senior Jesse Rodgers went 2-for-4 on the day, while adding two assists. With 511 career assists, the third baseman/shortstop is just one assist away from tying the all-time career assist mark at UP, currently held by Les Dennis (1992-95).

The Pilots and Lions are scheduled to play the second game of the three-game set on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.