Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Washington’s Miles Kizer hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the top of the seventh inning and the Huskies would hold on for a 6-5 win over the Portland Pilots in a non-conference baseball game at Joe Etzel Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Pilots had previously tied the game on a three-run homer by sophomore DH Beau Fraser in the bottom of the sixth.
Portland’s (20-9) offense had been mostly quiet when Fraser came to the plate with the Pilots trailing 5-2 and runners on the corners with one out in the sixth. Fraser greeted new pitcher Adam Cimber by taking a 2-1 fastball over the left field fence, tying the game at 5-5. UP then got two more runners on base, following a ground out by sophomore OF Garrett Queen. But Cimber got out of the jam by striking out senior C Rocky Gale.
Portland freshman RHP Chris Johnson then kept the momentum going in UP’s favor by striking out the first two batters in the top of the seventh. But Kizer gave the momentum and the lead back to Washington (18-13) with his go-ahead solo blast.
Johnson (1-1) takes the loss after working 2.0 innings. He struck out three and allowed three hits. Three relievers followed Johnson and held the Huskies scoreless the rest of the way.
Cimber, who spelled UW starter Forrest Snow, gets the win and improves to 3-2 on the year. Reliever Jacob Clem pitched the final two innings, striking out four, to pick up his third save this season. He allowed just one UP base runner on a walk in the bottom of the ninth.
The Huskies scored the game’s first run in the top of the third inning, but the Pilots responded with two in the bottom of the frame. Junior 3B Kevin Armijo led off with a double before trotting to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Gale. Armijo then scored easily on an RBI triple by senior OF Austin Pearce into the right-field corner. Sophomore SS Kris Kauppila followed with a run-scoring double to center field, giving Portland the 2-1 lead. Snow would then walk junior OF Kyle Haskin before getting out of the inning by inducing a huge 4-6-3 double play.
Washington then scored four in the top of the fourth inning to claim the 5-2 lead. The UP defense didn’t help as the first two runs scored on errors. There was no doubt about the next two runs, which came on a two-run home run by Troy Scott that chased Portland starter Scott Burris.
Burris was charged with five runs, three earned, on five hits in 3.1 innings. He struck out one and walked a pair.
UW out-hit the Pilots 11-7 and was led by Doug Cherry, who had a game-high four hits. Kauppila had two hits for Portland.
The Pilots, who are 5-1 in the West Coast Conference, remain at home this weekend with a three-game WCC series against the Loyola Marymount Lions. Friday’s game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field, while first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
