Game 1 Box I Game 2 Box
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland senior C.J. Cullen belted a walk-off three-run home run during the first game of a non-conference double-header with Seattle and nearly came up with a game-winning hit in the second as well, but the Redhawks would prevail to earn a split with the Pilots. UP claimed the first game 7-5, while Seattle won the second 5-4.
Portland (5-1), which matched its best start since 2000 at 5-0, falls a win shy of matching the program’s all-time best start to a season. Seattle improves to 1-5.
Cullen’s blast in the first game came with the Pilots trailing 5-4 with two outs and runners on the corners. The first baseman sent a 3-1 pitch high over the left field fence for his first career home run, giving the Pilots the win. Earlier in the inning, Portland junior 2B Riley Henricks made it a one-run game when he knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. SU reliever Bryan Dalton then struck out Tyler Thompson before surrendering the game-winning homer.
Cody Goodfellow (0-1) picked up the loss for Seattle as he was responsible for the base runners when Cullen went yard. He pitched 1.1 innings of relief and was charged with three runs on two hits.
Portland reliever Keeler Brynteson (1-1), who was saddled with the loss during the second game, retired the one batter he faced with a strike out in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the win in Game 1.
After Henricks led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run that broke a scoreless tie, the Redhawks touched Portland starter Kyle Kraus four five runs in the top of the fifth. Josh Kalalau and Cullen Hendrickson each smacked a homer during Seattle’s outburst, while Mike Malland knocked in two runs with a single.
The Pilots answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to make it a 5-3 game.
The second game looked eerily familiar as the first as Portland found itself trailing 5-4 once again in the bottom of the ninth. This time, Cullen came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. On a 1-2 pitch, Cullen sent a hard-hit line drive that appeared to have a chance to make it over the second baseman’s head. But Hendrickson leaped to make a sensational game-ending grab.
SU reliever Max Whieldon (1-1) gets the win after allowing one run on five hits in 3.0 innings of work. He struck out two and didn’t issue a walk. Whieldon struck out the lead-off batter in the ninth before allowing a double by UP sophomore SS Kris Kauppila. Brandon Kizer took over from there and got junior OF Craig Smith to fly out to right field. He then walked Henricks before senior C Rocky Gale reached on an error, setting up the bases loaded situation.
Kizer gets credit for his first save of the year.
The game was tied 4-4 entering the top of the ninth when Hendrickson led off with a base hit to left, chasing Brynteson. Reliever Brent Miller then entered the game and was welcomed by a sacrifice bunt by Eric Yardley. Then with a runner on second and one out, Steve Kirbach picked up what proved to be the game-winning RBI with a single up the middle. Doug Buser followed by lining into an inning-ending double play.
Junior Scott Burris started the game on the hill for Portland, working 5.2 innings. He was charged with four runs on six hits. Freshman J.R. Bunda also saw his first action as a Pilot, striking out one and allowing just one base runner to reach in 2.0 innings.
Junior 3B Kevin Armijo had a big hit for Portland in the bottom of the sixth when he tied the game with a three-run homer, his first of the year. With two on and Portland trailing 4-1, Armijo left the yard with a towering shot to left field.
Portland had 11 hits during each game, while SU had eight in the first and nine in the second.
The Pilots next remain at home for a non-conference game against George Fox on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.
