Box Score

CORVALLIS, Ore. --- Playing their third game in less than 24 hours, the Portland Pilots struggled to get it going offensively as the Utah Utes cruised to a 6-1 win at the Oregon State Spring Tournament at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field on Sunday. The Utes scored all six runs during the first three innings, while UP finished with just three hits.

 

Utah starting pitcher Rick Anton (3-1) didn’t mind the early starting time as he was perfect through six innings. He retired the first 18 Portland batters in order before finally surrendering a UP hit to lead off the seventh inning. He finished the day with seven strikeouts in 8.0 innings, while allowing just one run on two hits.

 

Reliever Brock Duke pitched the ninth, recording three strikeouts.

 

Portland left-handed senior starter Ed Wakefield (1-1) picks up his first loss of 2010 after getting charged with all six Utah runs. C.J. Cron knocked in Utah’s first run with an RBI single in the first, while Cooper Blanc did the damage in the second with a two-run triple. The Utes’ third run in the second came on a Portland error, making it 4-0.

 

The Utes (7-7) would chase Wakefield in the third, but reliever Owen Jones didn’t fare much better. He allowed an RBI single and a run-scoring double, with both runs going to Wakefield. The 6-0 lead was more than enough for the Utah pitchers.

 

UP’s lone run in the seventh came on Utah fielding error, with sophomore DH Beau Fraser picking up the RBI.

 

The 10-4 Pilots have a chance to salvage a split at the tournament when they face tourney host and 12th-ranked Oregon State on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. The Beavers edged the Pilots 6-5 on Saturday night.