Game 1 Box Score I Game 2 Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland starting pitcher Kyle Kraus recorded 14 strikeouts and the Pilots took both ends of a double header on Saturday to sweep a three-game series against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots won Saturday’s first game 7-2 before winning the second 3-2.
The Pilots have won five straight games to improve to 15-6. Southern Utah drops to 4-17.
Kraus went the distance during the first game to pick up his second straight complete-game win and improve to a perfect 4-0. He also becomes the second UP hurler this season to register 14 strikeouts, which is tied for second most during a single game in program history. Fellow junior right-hander Zach Varce struck out 14 during a win over Seattle on Feb. 27.
Kraus didn’t walk a batter, while scattering nine hits and allowing two runs.
Kyle Hamman (0-5) took the loss for Southern Utah after getting touched for all seven runs on 10 hits and three walks during 6.2 innings. He struck out three.
After three scoreless innings to begin the game, UP got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. With no outs and runners on first and second, junior OF Tyler Thompson drove in the first run of the game with a single to left field. Following a double play, sophomore OF Garrett Queen kept the inning going by reaching first base on a wild pitch after striking out swinging. Sophomore C/DH Beau Fraser scored on the play to make it 2-0.
After the Thunderbirds pulled within a run with a tally in the top of the sixth inning, the Pilots put the game on ice with a run in the bottom of the sixth and four more in the seventh. In the sixth, junior 2B Riley Henricks reached base with a two-out single. After advancing to second on a balk, Henricks would score on a single by Queen.
In the seventh, Fraser had a two-run single before Thompson came through with a big, two-out, two-run home run that carried over the fence in right field. Thompson’s first homer of the season made it a 7-1 game. SUU would score one in the top of the ninth.
The Pilots got off to somewhat of a shaky start during the second game as the Thunderbirds claimed an early 2-0 lead to chase Portland starter Scott Burris. The junior lefty uncharacteristically struggled with his control, waking three batters in only 2.2 innings. He also allowed five hits before giving way to reliever Owen Jones.
Jones (1-0), a right-handed sophomore, was in control from his first pitch and worked 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked just one, while allowing three hits. He has yet to allow a run in 13.2 innings this season.
Portland junior Chris Dennis then came in to shut the door and record the final five outs of the game for his league-high sixth save. Dennis used his nasty slider to strikeout three in 1.2 innings of work.
UP’s offense came courtesy an RBI each from junior OF Craig Smith, Fraser and junior C Rocky Gale. Smith’s RBI came in the bottom of the third with the Pilots trailing 2-0. After junior 3B Kevin Armijo had just been thrown out at the plate a play earlier, Smith cut the deficit in half with an infield single that scored sophomore SS Kris Kauppila.
Portland tied the game at 2-2 an inning later when Henricks led off with a double, advanced to second on a foul out by Queen and scored when Gale grounded out to second base.
The go-ahead run came in the fifth after Fraser brought home Smith on a bunt.
Southern Utah’s Justin Neubauer (1-1) picks up the loss. He allowed the three runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks in 5.0 innings. Two relievers followed him.
The Pilots out-hit the Thunderbirds 12-9 during the first game, while SUU held a 9-7 advantage in the second game.
Portland next welcomes the ninth-ranked Oregon State Beavers to Joe Etzel Field for a 3:00 p.m. game on Tuesday. The Pilots then head to Northern California to open play in the West Coast Conference with a series against the Santa Clara Broncos. The series opener is set for Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
