Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. --- Cort Carpenter and Riley Henricks hit back-to-back solo home runs and four Portland pitchers combined on a four-hitter as the Pilots defeated the Oregon Ducks 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon at PK Park. It’s the second win over the Ducks this season for the Pilots, who improve to 16-11.
The Ducks drop to 11-15.
In a rare start, Portland LHP Ed Wakefield (1-0) set the stage for the Pilots, cruising through 4.0 innings of work. The junior allowed just one hit and two walks, while recording one strike out.
RHP Brent Miller, LHP Keeler Brynteson and RHP Zach Varce followed Wakefield on the hill. Miller was touched for Oregon's only run on three hits in 2.0 innings.
Brynteson didn’t allow a hit and struckout four of the five batters he faced in an inning and a third, while Varce covered the final 1.2 innings to pick up his sixth save of the season. He didn’t allow a base runner, while striking out two.
Portland broke open a scoreless game with a pair of solo homers in the top of the fifth inning. Carpenter’s fifth home run of the season gave UP a 1-0 lead. Henricks followed suit with his third home run of the season, making it a 2-0 game.
Danny Pulfer plated Oregon’s only run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Chris Garrison (0-1), who gave up Portland’s two long flies in the fifth inning, gets the loss for Oregon. Five relievers followed Garrison on the hill.
Senior OF Bryant Kraus knocked in Portland’s third run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning. Kraus knocked in sophomore 3B Kevin Armijo, who had previously doubled.
The Pilots finished with seven hits on the day.
Portland next returns to the West Coast Conference with a three-game series against the Loyola Marymount Lions this weekend in Los Angeles, Calif. The Pilots and Lions are set to play at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and at 1:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
