Box Score

JONESBORO, Ark. --- Sophomore Beau Fraser, senior C.J. Cullen, and junior Kevin Armijo combined for 11 of Portland's season-high 18 hits, leading the Pilots to their first road victory of the season Saturday night at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field against Arkansas State. Sophomore Kyle Kraus settled down after a rocky start to pick up his second win of the season. 

The Pilots (7-2) relied on good base running to pull out the victory as 16 of their 18 hits were singles. Armijo had the only extra base hits with a home run and a double. Despite having ten fewer hits than the Pilots, the Red Wolves (7-2) stranded two more base runners. 

Kraus walked four batters after surrendering zero free passes in his first 14.0 innings this season. Kraus scattered the eight hits and four walks over seven innings, recording 12 groundouts. He improves to 2-0 on the season while Ross Humes suffers his first loss of the season for the Red Wolves. Sophomores Owen Jones and Keeler Brynteson finished the game with two hitless innings of relief. 

Freshman Nick Armenta helped Kraus from both the plate and the field. In addition to his two hits at the plate, Armenta added an outfield assist at a crucial point. With two outs in the sixth and Arkansas State threatening to pull closer, Kyle DeGrace rounded third on a Josh DeMoney base knock but Armenta fired a strike to Cullen. Cullen’s relay left Frazer plenty of time to apply the tag on the helpless runner.

The rubber game between the two teams is set to start at 1:00 PM local time. Junior Scotty Burris (0-0, 7.00 ERA) looks for his first victory of the season as Arkansas State counters with sophomore Jacob Lee (1-1, 3.86 ERA).