Danny Meier |
SPOKANE, Wash. --- The Portland Pilots overcame a six-run deficit to pull within one run of Gonzaga twice, but the Bulldogs prevailed 9-8 in a West Coast Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon at Washington Trust Field. Portland senior OF Danny Meier belted a three-run blast during the loss.
Trailing 9-7 in the top of the ninth inning, senior OF Cory Wiltshire kept Portland’s (17-22, 2-9 WCC) hopes alive with a one-out double off of GU reliever Brandon Harmon. After advancing to third base on a wild pitch, Wiltshire scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman OF Owen Jones.
With two outs and the Pilots trailing by one, Harmon induced a game-ending ground out by junior 1B Chase Powell for his first save of the season.
A.J. Proszek (2-3) picks up the win for Gonzaga (22-16, 4-6 WCC), which took a big lead early with a seven-run third inning. Proszek allowed six runs on six hits in six innings of work. He struck out three and walked four.
Mark Triolo (4-4) is saddled with the loss for Portland. Triolo lasted just 2.2 innings and surrendered seven runs, only three of which were earned. He allowed eight hits.
Three relievers followed Triolo, including freshman Scott Burris and junior Matthew Lange, who combined to hold GU scoreless during the final two innings. Junior Brennan Thorpe pitched the middle 3.1 innings and was charged with two runs on four hits and two walks.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, the Zags took control of the game with a seven-run outburst. After Evan Wells and Jason Chatwood picked up the inning’s first two RBI’s, two runs scored on a Portland error, allowing the Bulldogs to claim a 4-1 lead. Gonzaga then added three more runs on run-scoring singles by Tyson Van Winkle and Grant Kveder before Evan Wells drew a bases-loaded, which forced in the seventh and final run of the frame.
Still trailing 7-1 in the top of the fifth inning, the Pilots put up a five spot to pull within a run. With two outs and a runner on first, Wiltshire sent a two-run blast over the wall in right-center field to make it a 7-3 game.
Jones and Powell then kept the inning alive with a single and a walk, respectively. Meier followed with a two-out, three-run home run to pull UP within a run. The long fly is Meier’s team-high ninth of the season.
Gonzaga responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth, which proved to be the game-winner.
Down 9-6, Portland plated a run in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on first and third and one out, sophomore C Rocky Gale picked up an RBI when he reached on a fielder’s choice.
Portland had taken an early lead with the game’s first run in the top of the second inning. Powell, who led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, crossed the plate when a pitch got away from Van Winkle.
Gonzaga finished with a 13-9 advantage in hits. Wiltshire finished with three hits on the day for Portland, while Meier and freshman 2B/SS Riley Henricks each tallied two hits. Henricks, whose 14-game hitting streak ended yesterday, has a hit in 15 of the last 16 games.
Drew Heid had three hits for the Zags.
Portland and Gonzaga next conclude their three-game series with a game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
