Box Score
JONESBORO, Ark. --- The Portland Pilots dropped their first road game of the season 7-0 to the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field on Friday night. Portland drops to 6-2 on the season with two games remaining in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State, whose only loss this season was to 24th-ranked Ole Miss, improves to 7-1.
The Pilots were hampered by six errors, while the Red Wolves scored two runs during the second, third and seventh innings and tallied one run in the sixth. Only two of ASU’s runs were earned.
Portland junior starter Zach Varce (1-1) was touched for five runs in 5.1 innings, but only one of the runs was earned. He surrendered six hits and three walks, while striking out one.
Arkansas State starter Andy Ferguson (2-0) struck out nine Pilots in 7.0 innings of work. He allowed just five hits and didn’t walk a batter. Reliever John Koch pitched the final two innings and didn’t allow a hitter to reach base, while striking out three.
The Red Wolves opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs, only one of which was earned. ASU scored two more in the third on RBI singles by Josh Demoney and Jordan Castaldo. Both of those runs were unearned as well.
ASU plated another run in the sixth on another UP error and tallied two more in the seventh on an error and a sacrifice fly by Castaldo.
Portland finished with five hits on the night and were led by senior 1B C.J. Cullen, who had two. ASU had seven hits and committed one error.
The second game of the three-game series is set for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific), while Sunday’s series finale is set for 11:00 a.m.
